International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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Artificial/man-made pools that are not heated can be emptied when air temperatures make the water too cold for the otters to use. After pools are emptied for cleaning they can take quite a bit of time to refill. It is important that otters can not jump or fall into the deep areas of empty pools. If animals can do this they must be kept away from these dangerous areas (i.e. this usually means locking them out of their main enclosure area). Pools should be designed with these cautions in mind. I.e. deep areas should gently slope to shallow areas or/and they can be placed so that giant otters can not enter the pool from the land at the deep points. This will also significantly reduce the amount of time that otters will have to be locked out of their enclosures after the pool is cleaned. Pools must have plentiful areas of gently sloping (smooth non-abrasive) sides/edges so that young cubs learning swimming can easily exit the water (Duplaix-Hall 1972). (These sides/edges should also be made of material and constructed in such a way that prevents or reduces the chance that they become too slippery for the otters.) For example, a cub from any river otter species can drown when pools only have steep borders. Duplaix (citing Harris 1968) reports one such occasion (i.e. a L. canadensis cub drowned). This is also necessary to allow adult otters, esp. old animals, a more natural and easier exit and parents an easier and safer exit when they are carrying their cubs. Ideally, all pool edges that are bordered by land area should be gently sloping, although if this can not be done, it is advisable to construct as much of the pool in this way as possible. If shallow areas do not extend from/connect to deep pool areas to allow for easy exits, a gently sloping pool border could be created during pool construction in various ways. (For example, an approximately one meter wide surface area / shallow exit area can be constructed so that it extends, with a gentle slope upwards, from the top of the vertical pool wall to the land. This sloping 1m pool border can be made so that the water is 30 cm (12") deep at its deepest point [i.e. where it connects to the vertical pool wall]. It can gently and gradually slope upward until only a few centimeters of water depth is present at the edge where it connects to the land area. This pool border can be extended around all the pool areas without shallow exits.) When swim tanks/tubs are offered they also must provide easy and safe exit areas either in the same manner as above or as follows if no other option is available. At the least, large rocks/boulders, ramps, logs, or boards around the inside edge must be provided (Duplaix 1972), but they should be constructed with or made of materials that otters can not easily slip on. (See ramp construction in Section 12 and below.) Pool sides / edges should not be raised much above the water level as this will make exiting the pool difficult for adults alone as well as adults carrying cubs and impossible for cubs. In the wild, “When possible Pteronura skirted vertical banks, preferring shallow inclines for entry and exits into the water.” (Duplaix 1980). Pool drains, filters, skimmers, water filtration/cleaning systems, waterfalls, underwater viewing areas, swim tanks/tubs, and all water areas must be able to accommodate the soft loose natural substrates that may be tracked, pushed, dug etc. into the water from land and floor areas. The simple designs and furnishings described in Section 2C can help prevent substrates from entering water areas and blocking drains or causing other problems. Although, even with these methods, some substrates will enter the water. Because it is necessary that every indoor and outdoor enclosure land and floor surface is nearly entirely covered with soft loose natural substrates as recommended, enclosure water areas etc. should be designed or modified with these considerations in mind. (These methods will also help prevent leaves, sticks, bark, etc. that have fallen from trees, fish remains, natural furnishings 136
other than substrates, and toys from blocking pool drains or causing other problems.) See Section 16 for water source and treatment methods. In very small indoor and outdoor enclosures (e.g. quarantine or temporary holding enclosures, etc.), separable enclosure areas or when temporary swim areas were needed, small tanks or large tubs of water have been provided for swim areas. These should be at least 3 m 2 (32.3 ft²) to 4 m 2 (43.1 ft²) in size and at least 35 cm – 40 cm (14" – 16") deep, although the water area size required ultimately depends on the total size of the enclosure area and the land to water ratio necessary for it. (I.e. it is essential that enough land is provided.) Some indoor enclosures that are attached to outdoor enclosures may not need water areas (see Section 9 below). A swim tank/tub that is not sunken into the floor or land (i.e. the sides extend above the base surface level) should not be much deeper than 35 cm to 40 cm (14" – 16") when parents are rearing cubs. When the tank's top edge is higher from the ground cubs may hurt themselves if they fall over the pool edge and parents will not be able to easily exit or enter the tub esp. when they are carrying cubs. A ramp with a gentle incline, raised slats on the surface for a better grip, non-slippery surface, and an amply wide width should be used for safe and easy exits and entrances, esp. for the cubs. A log stump, large rock or other type of non-slippery stationary step should be placed in the tank/tub for the same purposes. These are very important for safety reasons as young cubs will not be able to exit/enter the tank/tub without these provisions. Tanks/tubs with deeper depths, e.g. 65 cm [26"] deep, should have gently sloping sides and be sunken in the ground for cub safety and for easy exits for all. Swim tanks/tubs have been made of heavy plastic, fiberglass, metal, and concrete with/without tiles. They should have a drain for easy and quick cleaning. These small water areas (e.g. tanks, tubs, small pools) should be emptied and filled with soft sand or mulch (type as recommended only) or they should be removed when they are not needed and the vacant space covered over with appropriate substrates. This procedure is highly recommended in small enclosures as it will allow for more quality land area and it will also help keep the land/floors drier. Note: the smaller the amount of land area available, the more difficult it is to keep the land dry, although many other factors will also cause very damp/wet land and floor areas (see Section 5). Water areas should be located and designed so that they can be accessed/serviced quietly, quickly, as well as easily and if possible while hidden from the otters’ view when parents are rearing cubs. This is necessary so that servicing can be done with minimal or no human disturbance (both visual and acoustic) to the otters during cub-rearing. E.g. swim tanks/pools can be designed so that they can be emptied and filled with fresh water or/and be provided with a small gentle constant flow of fresh water, without the keeper having to enter the enclosure. See Section 10B below for more information on enclosure designs and privacy needed during cub-rearing. The following conditions also apply to any enclosure area that has water within it. See below for why these provisions are necessary. The main land areas should not be totally surrounded by water (i.e. like islands are) and this is important when enclosures are less than 600 m 2 (6,458.4 ft²) in size. As the land area is decreased in size, the amount of land area that is exposed to the water’s edge should also be decreased in size proportionately. The following recommendations are based on enclosures where the land to water ratios are provided as recommended. In an enclosure that is smaller or somewhat larger than 75 m 2 (807.3 ft²) in size, the land area should only be bordered by/adjacent to the water’s edge on one of its sides. When enclosures are somewhat smaller or somewhat larger than 240m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size, no more than two sides of the land area should be bordered by/adjacent to the 137
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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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proportionately increased and the w
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does not offer the same advantages
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*Note: Duplaix’s guidelines for o
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dry easily, drain well, and be resi
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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
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Page 105 and 106: provided as recommended, so that ot
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Page 113 and 114: These husbandry provisions produce
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Page 131 and 132: Section 5 Locations and Designs for
Page 133 and 134: all substrates) with/without vegeta
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Page 137: Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m
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 167 and 168: was moved to another enclosure (Gat
Page 169 and 170: Inbreeding, physical, behavioral, a
Page 171 and 172: underground dens in this expansive
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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Page 183 and 184: Section 15 Toys & Methods for Addit
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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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