International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
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all substrates) with/without vegetation, needs to retain all of the recommended substrate<br />
qualities. When it can not it will not remain dry enough (it also will erode too easily or become<br />
tightly packed/compacted). [The otters’ strong natural digging <strong>and</strong> grooming behaviors<br />
(grooming also involves digging/scratching into substrates) must not be prevented.] Hard<br />
surfaces are not absorbent <strong>and</strong> water cannot drain through them.<br />
Surfaces may not remain dry enough when the depth of soil, s<strong>and</strong>, or mulch fall below the<br />
minimum depth recommended or substrate quality (esp. mulch quality) is not maintained as<br />
recommended. Water naturally drains through mulch <strong>and</strong> soft s<strong>and</strong> esp. well, therefore these<br />
l<strong>and</strong> furnishings used in both indoor <strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosures <strong>and</strong> over most all surface types, dry<br />
easily <strong>and</strong> quickly if they are maintained properly. Substrate depths more shallow than the<br />
recommended minimum of 10 cm to 20 cm (4” to 8”) will not dry as easily or quickly <strong>and</strong> they<br />
can remain wet/very damp. When mulch breaks <strong>and</strong> packs down (i.e. bark pieces have broken<br />
into small pieces <strong>and</strong> they pack tightly together) the same problems will occur. Note: new<br />
mulch must be added on top of existing mulch that has broken into small pieces <strong>and</strong> packed<br />
down <strong>and</strong> new s<strong>and</strong>, mulch, or soil must be added on top of the already existing layer when it<br />
falls below minimum depth. (Note: substrates should also be as deep as possible in the areas<br />
near the water’s edge.) Small or limited grooming areas will also remain very damp/wet when<br />
they are the only areas offered for grooming.<br />
How wet nestboxes, dens <strong>and</strong> natural underground dens themselves become/remain is not<br />
only dependent upon how close these areas are to the water, but it is also dependent on all<br />
enclosure conditions. The following can occur when nestboxes, dens, or areas for natural<br />
underground dens are located too close to the water (i.e. less than 3 m (10 ft) away from the<br />
water’s edge) or when any of the other inappropriate conditions mentioned above exist.<br />
The dens, nestboxes (including bedding substrates) or natural underground dens <strong>and</strong> the l<strong>and</strong><br />
around these locations can remain very damp/wet. In addition, the l<strong>and</strong> around the water <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
the remaining/other enclosure l<strong>and</strong> areas can remain very damp/wet. E.g. when the otters leave<br />
the water to enter their sleeping areas, water will be easily tracked <strong>and</strong> carried into the nestboxes<br />
<strong>and</strong> underground dens, as well as onto the l<strong>and</strong> that lies between these resting places <strong>and</strong> the<br />
water. (Note: because giant otters take naps throughout the day, numerous trips of this nature<br />
can be made during the day, although they also rest on other l<strong>and</strong> areas as well.) <strong>Otter</strong>s will also<br />
quickly dampen/wet these areas when they use them to dry off <strong>and</strong> groom on because sufficient<br />
l<strong>and</strong> area <strong>and</strong>/or adequate substrates are not conveniently available for them to use for these<br />
activities before they enter their sleeping areas. Without sufficient l<strong>and</strong> area <strong>and</strong>/or adequate<br />
substrates, the aforementioned areas will likely remain very damp or wet. Note: young cubs<br />
will primarily stay/be kept by their parents in <strong>and</strong> near their nestboxes, dens, <strong>and</strong> natural<br />
underground dens <strong>and</strong> on the l<strong>and</strong> near the water’s edge. In inappropriate conditions, as above,<br />
otters will be exposed to damp/wet conditions for long/extended periods <strong>and</strong> poor health,<br />
serious health problems, or even death can result (see Section 3 above for cub death because of<br />
such conditions). Parents, with no other choice, will be subject to keeping their cubs as well as<br />
themselves in such conditions. Also when insufficient l<strong>and</strong> area exists, parents may be<br />
encouraged to put their cubs into the water more frequently than they should.<br />
Locations <strong>and</strong> Designs to Offer Parents Privacy/Isolation From Human Disturbances <strong>and</strong><br />
Presence During Cub-Rearing<br />
Chapter 2 Section 10B describes the enclosure, nestbox, den, <strong>and</strong> hill/bank (i.e. areas for natural<br />
underground dens) locations <strong>and</strong> designs needed to isolate these areas from human disturbances<br />
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