International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

for carrying out the actual ultrasounds via giant otter husbandry training and for helping/training
us to correctly draw giant otter lactation milk samples (conducted via husbandry training). I
have great appreciation for their continued support and research for these procedures and
understanding of giant otter ways and patience. Without their interest, efforts, and support
invaluable information would not be able to be attained. I would also like to thank Michael
Strugholz for his continued support and Natascha Kuhrt for her assistance during some of the
training sessions. Volker Gatz has given me continued inspiration and provided me with
invaluable knowledge. His on-going assistance with the development of this manual and
studbook and efforts to help giant otters to one day become a self-sustaining captive population
have been most invaluable. He also began the giant otter husbandry training program at
Dortmund Zoo and in allowing me to join in and work with him on this project, has provided me
with invaluable husbandry training experience and information. This project would not have
been possible without his efforts to initiate and continue it.
Duisburg Zoo (Reinhard Frese and Achim Winkler), Hagenbeck Tierpark (Dr. Claus Hagenbeck
and Dr. Michael Flügger), and Brasilia Zoo (Raul Gonzales Acosta, Clea Lucia Magalhaes,
Adriana Bocchiglieri, Marcelo Lima Reis, Wedina Bareto, and Daniel Louzada da Silva) have
been instrumental in their support for the formation of the international giant otter studbook as
well. Much thanks and appreciation go to them. Achim Winkler's particular efforts to these
matters has been most helpful and sincerely appreciated. Dr. Flügger has also been particularly
supportive and his support is much appreciated. We are also very grateful for all of Wedina
Bareto’s special attention to the details.
I would also like to give my sincere appreciation and thanks to the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist
Group, especially Claus Reuther, Jessica Groenendijk, Frank Hajek, Dr. Christof Schenck, Dr.
Nicole Duplaix, Dr. Hélène Jacques, and Helen Waldemarin for their continuing support for the
efforts to help giant otters to one day become a self-sustaining captive population and for the
provision of invaluable knowledge.
Many thanks and great appreciation go to Dr. Nicole Duplaix, Dr. Christine Osmann, Dr. Klaus
Wünnemann, Achim Winkler, German Corredor, and Volker Gatz for their reviews of either
this entire manual or parts of it and for their invaluable comments.
The Philadelphia Zoo and Dortmund Zoo staff were instrumental in providing support, help, and
advice for the first edition giant otter husbandry and management manual and research. Many
special thanks and great appreciation go to Karl Kranz, Kim (Whitman) Lengel, Dr. Andy
Baker, Barbara Toddes, and Ann Hess of the Philadelphia Zoo and to those named above at
Dortmund Zoo. The opportunity, knowledge, and inspiration gained from my first hand
experiences working with the giant otters and research experience at Philadelphia and Dortmund
Zoos were also invaluable. I would also like to thank Peter Engel and Peter Zwanzger for their
helpful assistance. I am also very grateful for Bernie Sykes’s technical help and support for the
1 st edition manual. Tatiana Lucena Pimentel was also very helpful with her assistance to review
the health section that formed the basis for the second edition. Many thanks and great
appreciation go to Dr. Christof Schenck, Achim Winkler, Dr. Nicole Duplaix, and Volker Gatz
for their intensive reviews of and invaluable comments to the 1 st edition manual. I would like to
thank Dr. Klaus Schüling very much for the opportunity to publish the 1 st edition “Husbandry
and Management of the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
This manual is dedicated to the giant otters I have been honored to know. My most special
gratitude and high regard go to them.
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