International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

It is not uncommon that institutions report that their giant otters do not dig, groom, play
and/or exercise on land, or use the land area to the same degree as just described. (See why
in the following pages.)
When otters are faced with new/unusual situations or are cub-rearing they can easily
become stressed, tense, bored, frustrated, fearful, or nervous etc. During these times, some
negative responses can normally be expected to occur to a certain degree in most all enclosure
conditions. When giant otters have been exposed to new/unusual situations, the full extent
of digging and grooming activities were performed with an extraordinarily increased
amount of frequency, duration, and intensity compared to otters during normal
circumstances. (Some otters that had access to live growing and/or "man-made bamboo
stands" also manipulated and played with the bamboo to the same extraordinary degree.) They
used the entire expanse of their indoor and/or outdoor land areas to carry out all of these
behaviors. Of their daily typical behaviors and in appropriate enclosure conditions, these
were the only activities that were carried out in such an exaggerated way during
new/unusual situations. (I.e. many other appropriate options, such as swimming etc., were
available to be focused on in this way.) Because the otters could carry out these behaviors to
the full extent, that allowed them to focus/divert their attentions and actions away from the
stressful, frustrating, frightening, or uninteresting situations that normally can be caused
because of new/unusual circumstances. This therefore significantly reduced/counteracted the
negative responses that could have developed or that could have abnormally elevated, if the
otters had focused on the stressful etc. situations. These animals were able to successfully adjust
to their new/unusual circumstances and they did so in a normal and healthy manner (i.e. without
abnormally elevated or excessive levels of negative responses that adversely affect/significantly
impair successful adjustment to new situations). During cub-rearing, giant otters have also
carried out digging in the same way as described during new/unusual situations (i.e. with
extraordinarily increased frequency, duration, etc.) and this also provides the same benefits as
just aforementioned. In captivity, negative responses (stress, frustration etc.) can develop
even during typical situations. Because digging and grooming behaviors are normally carried
out to a significant degree on a daily basis in typical situations, this indicates that these behaviors
help otters prevent, counteract or significantly reduce the chance that negative responses develop
in these circumstances. Digging and grooming, carried out to their full extent, are obviously
among the most important activities that giant otters need to perform to prevent,
counteract, or significantly reduce the negative responses, i.e. stress, boredom,
nervousness, fear, frustration etc., that can occur during new/unusual situations, cubrearing,
and typical daily circumstances.
Substrates, deep digging areas and land to water ratios as recommended are necessary to focus or
divert these animals’ attentions and actions in a healthy and normal way in atypical and typical
circumstances and during cub-rearing. These provisions allow and encourage otters to
focus/divert their attentions and actions on an enriched and positively challenging and
stimulating situation rather than on a stressful, frustrating, frightening, or uninteresting
situation. The other recommended natural furnishings are important for the same reasons
(see above and Section 4 below).
Additionally, the more natural, complex, and expansive the enclosure, the more benefit gained.
For example, wild Pteronura use the multiple underground dens that they dig within their
expansive territory, to rear cubs and sleep in. When given the appropriate conditions, captive
Pteronura will dig many underground dens within their enclosures and use them for the same
purposes. Natural soft loose soil hillsides, designed and furnished as recommended, promote
112