International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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pers. comm.) giant otters. They will briefly rest and balance themselves upon these surfaces to eat and play on etc.. Additionally, partially submerged smooth boulders are well used for surfaces to rest and eat upon. Partially submerged logs may also be rested upon. Otters also like to lay and sun themselves on large smooth boulders, esp. those placed along a shoreline. These therefore are recommended for use as well. (The surface texture of the boulders should not be sharp, abrasive, or coarse.) Observations of wild giant otter marking behavior in Suriname: “Both adult males and females tear down the overhanging vegetation (see Olfactory Behavior), break all small saplings, scratch up the leaves, trample the substrate,[these actions are carried out to help mark the otters’ territory]...The male goes ashore at 1037 and starts clutching armfuls of twigs and leaves by rearing up on his hindpaws and grasping small branches to his chest. He pushes them down his chest between his legs and begins to trample them…The male rises and knocks over a thin sapling with his extended right forepaw, digits fanned, and passes it under his body. He defecates. The female starts rubbing her forepaws on the ground and also knocks down a sapling 1.5 cm in diameter and defecate[s] over it. Both resume kneading the substrate for a minute before slipping into water…[the] vegetation is bedraggled, the leaves having been trampled into the ground….The palms are pushed backwards and forwards as well as sideways in a stiff-legged, almost jerky fashion….The sequence lasted 2 minutes but longer ones have been recorded, e.g. two lasting 16 minutes. That day the H pair marked on three separate areas within 50m of each other towards the top end of their territory.”(Duplaix 1980). It is highly recommended to provide live growing bamboo stands and/or “man-made bamboo stands / overhanging bamboo” that have the recommended stalk sizes that are needed for successful utilization, in both indoor and outdoor enclosures for daily use. The latter (i.e. bamboo cut and standing or overhanging for use) can be easily and inexpensively constructed as the 2 nd paragraph below explains. (See the stalk sizes needed below.) Pulling on/down, playing with, and manipulating lightweight overhanging and ground level items is one favorite giant otter activity. (Giant otters will manipulate items when they are lying down, standing, and standing on their hind legs.) As noted in the paragraph above, these behaviors are similar to those they would do in the wild. Bamboo, the tall variety with the recommended diameter stalk sizes, that overhang or/and stand vertically and are within the otter’s reach (whether cut or growing) are most favored for this activity and are used daily in captivity. Pteronura will also rest and play under and stand on their hind legs to manipulate/play with overhanging bamboo (i.e. the top end of bamboo that has leaves). They will also groom, rest on, and play with fallen/bent down bamboo. Because these provisions are used so often by giant otters for manipulation and play, it is advisable to offer them. In addition, these furnishings have been beneficial to help reduce stress, boredom and other negative responses. They therefore are especially helpful during cub-rearing and when animals encounter new/unusual situations, as well as during typical daily circumstances. (See Chapter 2 Section 3B.) Visitors also enjoy watching otters engage in these activities. Resilient, soft, and flexible both live and cut bamboo works especially well for both otters to use and caretakers to easily provide and maintain. It can be used/re-used by the otters for a long time after it has been cut and live growing bamboo (if tall enough) can withstand the daily play of the otters and grow normally without being damaged or destroyed. 126
Live growing bamboo springs back up again unharmed after the otters play with it and it will continue to grow unharmed whether it is growing outdoors or within large containers indoors. The otters will bend down/pull on flexible stalks that are thin in diameter so that they can reach the top (i.e. the widest part of the bamboo with leaves) or the middle of the bamboo and manipulate and play with the leaves and smaller branches. When providing live growing bamboo, whether for indoor or outdoor use, only specific types of bamboo can be used by the otters for the aforementioned activity. Bamboo species that grow tall are ideal to use, but the stalks must be small enough in diameter so that they are still easily flexible. Bamboo stalks that are approx. 0.5 cm to 0.75 cm (0.2" to 0.3") in diameter at their base and that are approx. 2m to 3 m (6.56 ft to 9.84 ft) in height should be used. (The term “base” means the portion of the stalk that is at the ground level.) Bamboo species such as Fargesia murielae have worked very well both live growing and cut for use. It is important to note that when growing bamboo has a stalk diameter thicker than the sizes aforementioned, it can not be used by the otters because the stalks are too large and therefore inflexible. Tall growing bamboo although should be offered to the otters when it has reached at least 1.5 m to 2 m (4.92 ft to 6.56 ft) or more in height. Shorter heights may be destroyed by the otters as this size may not be able to withstand the significant use from the otters. Very large pots, tubs, or containers of live growing bamboo can be provided indoors. These containers can be hidden under deep substrates and they should be large enough so they can not be turned over or manipulated by the otters. This method has worked very well in indoor areas where it was not possible to place plantings directly into the enclosure base. “Man-made bamboo stands / overhanging bamboo” can be easily made with cut bamboo stalk bases that are sunken deep into soft loose substrates etc. or pushed into fence/lattice mesh so the stalks (bamboo) stand vertically and/or overhang the otter and are within the otter’s reach. The otter will bend or pull the stalk (bamboo) down so that it can play with the top end of the bamboo (i.e. the end with leaves). (The otters usually do not break the bamboo stalks as the stalks are flexible and resilient.) When constructing and offering this provision a wider range of stalk size, i.e. in comparison to the size needed for live growing bamboo, can be used. For example, stalk sizes as previously mentioned are good to use, but when stalks are cut, a slightly larger diameter size stalk will withstand more play and can often remain standing/overhanging somewhat longer than the smaller size. Stalks with 1 cm to 1.5 cm (0.4" to 0.6") diameter at their base and that are 2 m to 3 m (6.56 ft to 9.84 ft) in height are ideal for use. Slightly larger and smaller diameter stalk sizes and different heights can also be used for variety. Each stalk can be cut at its base. The base of each cut tall bamboo stalk can be pushed deep into substrates (esp. in deep soft loose soil or sand) and be pushed into/inbetween fence mesh/lattice, hollow logs, logs, various crevices in logs etc., tree stumps, roots etc.. (Stalk ends can be cut / shaped for easier placement, but usually this is not necessary.) Hollow logs can also be filled with soil or small holes can be drilled in logs to push stalk ends into. The bamboo must overhang the otter or stand vertically so that in both situations, the otter can easily pull on/bend or pull down the stalk (bamboo) to reach the top of the bamboo (the largest flared part with leaves and branches). This method will not be effective otherwise. (Otters mostly play with the top of the bamboo.) Bamboo can also be hung upside down (from lattice/fence containment barrier roofs etc.) or side ways (in fence, logs etc.) so that the top of the bamboo is in reach of the otter. Many “man-made bamboo stands / overhanging bamboo” placed in both indoor and outdoor enclosures will naturally enrich the environment for both otters and visitors. Bamboo that has been pulled down must be re-hung/re-set (this usually needs to be done 127
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International Giant Otter Studbook
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Dear reader, With this, the second
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Section 2 Introduction to Substrate
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Parental Behavior Overview.........
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Introduction This manual is a secon
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Contributing Institutions/Individua
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Dortmund Zoo: Current Director: Dr.
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Giant Otter Characteristics (The fo
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Chapter 1 Husbandry and Management
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informal international network has
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are only released into the wild, th
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malfunctions, due to severe inbreed
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maturity (i.e. at 2 years old), the
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emaining 3 institutions bred otters
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elow 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size
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difficulties/abnormalities to a mod
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are to the water, but it is also de
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deep digging areas as recommended,
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greater problems. I.e. the ability
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additions that can be made to enclo
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(esp. around approx. 10 to 11 years
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Hagenbecks Tierpark Giant Otter Vac
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Dietary Related Problems: Diarrhea
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times over 10 years) then disappear
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Thyroid Malfunctions: see Chapter 1
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unpublished report 1997). His hind
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vitamin B 1 tablet and one 400 IU v
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otters were exposed to in their enc
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animal, e.g. for serious/life threa
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conditions/problems can be identifi
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that the otters are very familiar a
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Section 5 Handrearing Captive-Born
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Chapter 5 for how to measure, Chapt
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proper authorities (i.e. park offic
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oth cubs were adopted by a wild ott
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Chapter 2: Husbandry and Management
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The following conditions (i.e. Numb
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The provision of the conditions lis
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Page 81 and 82: *Note: Duplaix’s guidelines for o
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Page 85 and 86: It is necessary that every indoor a
Page 87 and 88: Deep Digging Area Necessary For Eac
Page 89 and 90: play, exercise etc. on. Note: when
Page 91 and 92: Cleaning Procedures for Substrates
Page 93 and 94: [4”] in width, could be placed 10
Page 95 and 96: The aforementioned problems are cau
Page 97 and 98: difficulties/abnormalities involvin
Page 99 and 100: they could cause similar walking di
Page 101 and 102: It is not uncommon that pink foot/t
Page 103 and 104: No additional or detailed informati
Page 105 and 106: provided as recommended, so that ot
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Page 109 and 110: or high humidity, esp. extended per
Page 111 and 112: dry areas in enclosures should also
Page 113 and 114: These husbandry provisions produce
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Page 121 and 122: exposed to similar situations as ju
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Page 127: furnishings will also remain drier
Page 131 and 132: Section 5 Locations and Designs for
Page 133 and 134: all substrates) with/without vegeta
Page 135 and 136: indoors. Otters can also use each c
Page 137 and 138: Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m
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Page 141 and 142: to help prevent water filtration/dr
Page 143 and 144: Section 10B discusses the locations
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Page 161 and 162: Chapter 1 for studies that should b
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Page 169 and 170: Inbreeding, physical, behavioral, a
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Page 173 and 174: Section 12 Natural Underground Dens
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Page 177 and 178: Section 13 Den Construction “Den
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should not be introduced with physi
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door) could instead be made in the
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Section 15 Toys & Methods for Addit
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Although once items such as cardboa
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e designed or modified with these c
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Section 18 Introducing Unfamiliar &
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have been housed together and then
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contact introduction, i.e. to stop
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Section 19 Diet and Feeding Only go
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Cuiaba Zoo in Brazil (Marcato de Ol
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are consumed in varying amounts acc
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Captive giant otters have been obse
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part of the target. The target we u
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to secure the guillotine door with
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it stays close to the target. This
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these births may go undetected. Ult
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those working with her, from being
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ody temperatures to be taken, when
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abnormally frequent or excessive, i
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with a male (other than growing up
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of course, because information rega
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seen entering the shelter alone, bu
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At Hagenbeck Tierpark, Wünnemann (
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52.5 cm [20.6"]. It is assumed that
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cub weight growth curve in Graph 2
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contain glucose rather than sucrose
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and frequency after each toileting/
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Section 4 Toileting: To produce eli
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when no other better formula is ava
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prepared artificial milk replacers
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avoid dietary problems and help cub
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formula is accomplished. When cubs
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suggested above. The same feeding f
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successfully can often be difficult
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should then be allowed to lick the
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The general guideline that food/for
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very gently dipped in the bowl into
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enough), and explore while under su
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dig into, well-draining etc.) are n
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ecome healthy and their housing can
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Section 16 Companion Cubs and Handr
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Cubs must exercise and explore to p
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Table 3 : Summary of the internatio
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Table 5 : International giant otter
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Days/ Months Sex Weight/Length (ent
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Table 7: Adult Giant Otter Weights
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Graph 2 : Giant Otter Cub Weight Gr
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Duplaix, N. 1980. Observations on t
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asiliensis, Gmelin, 1788) No Zooló
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Otter Colloquium Pietermaritzburg 1
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International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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