International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

Section 4
Natural Land Furnishings (other than substrates) for Every Enclosure
Note: the substrates required for all enclosure floor and land areas are not discussed
within this section. See Section 2 above. Natural furnishings for use within pools are only
partially discussed here, as is vegetation. See Sections 6-7 below. “Furnishings and
furniture” refer to any natural items (e.g. soft loose natural substrates, logs, boulders, trees,
cut or growing bamboo etc.) that can be placed in an otter enclosure.
A complex, plentiful amount, and variety of natural furnishings should be provided within
all indoor and outdoor enclosures (i.e. this also includes off-exhibit living and temporary
holding areas, quarantine, separable enclosure areas etc.) (Duplaix-Hall 1972 &1975;
Wünnemann 1995; Sykes-Gatz 2001). Natural furnishings will help to offer shelter (e.g. from
the wind, rain, and direct sun) and semi-private resting places. (See Section 9 for natural
furnishings that should be used to provide shelter in outdoor enclosures.) Natural furnishings,
other than the necessary land and floor substrates, can also provide a small amount of
supplementary drying and grooming areas, as well as dry resting areas. They also can help otters
to reduce their stress and provide additional enrichment. More challenging and stimulating
places to exercise, play, and investigate will be available. This is necessary so the otter will be
faced with more choices, variety, challenges, behavioral opportunities, and very importantly, a
healthier more stimulating and enriched environment. This type of environment would, at least
to a small degree, help to replicate what a giant otter would find in the wild. More choices allow
otters more control within their environment and this reduces the chance that stress, frustration,
boredom, fear etc. will develop (see Section 3B). This is especially important during cub-rearing
and when otters are exposed to new/unusual situations (see Sections 10 and 18). Note: the
recommended land and floor substrates are the most important and primary areas that otters need
to dry and groom themselves. They (including the required deep digging areas) are also the most
important furnishings and are among the most important husbandry provisions needed to help
otters reduce their stress and other negative responses in all situations and to provide enrichment.
(I.e. otters need the recommended substrates to maintain their mental/behavioral, as well as
physical health.)
The following furnishings are especially favored and well used in captivity as most are
similar to the natural items that a giant otter would often use in the wild (Duplaix-Hall 1972 &
1975; Duplaix 1980; Staib 2002). All furniture should be checked for safety to make sure otters
can not become trapped within, between, or under the items when they are on land or in the
water or become pinned between floating or submerged large objects and the pool-sides.
Giant otters very frequently use large diameter logs and hollow logs, that are large enough
for entrance, to rest and play on / in, groom, dry, and sun themselves on, as well as eat on top of.
Logs, esp. those with bark, and hollow logs can provide a small amount of supplementary drying
and grooming areas as well as dry resting areas, as they are elevated from the ground surface and
are somewhat absorbent and hollow logs also offer an enclosed space. In addition, these
furnishings can offer semi-private resting areas when otters lie behind or in them. These
therefore are highly recommended for indoor and outdoor use. At least, logs that are large
enough in diameter and long enough for otters to lay on and that preferably still have their
bark, should be placed within indoor and outdoor enclosures. It is ideal to place them esp.
along the shoreline itself and around the dry land area just behind the shoreline / water area edge.
It is although important to offer logs on inner land areas as well, so otters can play and chase
each other around them and lay in areas that are farther removed from the water. (Such
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