International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

1996). Indoor enclosures should be equipped with fans, cooling, or/and ventilation systems
to prevent over-heating and provide fresh air exchange and in temperate climates, a
heating system is also needed.
During warm weather, dens and nestboxes located in outdoor enclosures could become very
warm (esp. in climates that are warm all year around) so caution must be taken that temperatures
do not become too high for the otters. Nestboxes should be placed in areas that provide
shade for temperature control, esp. in warm climates. Nestboxes might be able to be placed
underground to help keep nestboxes cooler, esp. in warm climates, although this has not been
tried and problems may occur. See Section 10B for a discussion on nestboxes and the
problems/possibilities of placing them underground. Caution also must be taken if tunnels are
connected to nestboxes, as these tunnels may increase nestbox temperatures and this may help
to cause overheating. Also nestboxes should not be placed in areas where there are drafts.
Animal shift doors should be placed in areas that minimize drafts that may enter
enclosures and especially nestboxes and dens containing nestboxes. Heavy flexible plastic
strips (such as those used in primate exhibits) can be placed over shift door openings to
help keep indoor areas warm and minimize draft. (Shift door frames also should be placed
somewhat above ground / floor level to prevent that their movement is blocked by substrates,
toys etc.; see Section 2). See Chapter 2 Sections 2, 5, 10, 11, & 13 for other necessary shift
door/gate designs and placement recommendations. A small area (i.e. just large enough for
otters to lay on) with under-floor heating or a heat mat could be useful in outdoor enclosures in
temperate climates. Note: it is not necessary to provide such areas. E.g. Hagenbeck Tierpark’s
offered a small area with under-floor heating that was covered with sand in the outdoor
enclosure. Dortmund Zoo offers a heat-mat, covered with sand and just large enough for resting
on, in the outdoor enclosure.
Wünnemann (1995) states (swim) “water temperature seems to be more critical than the air
temperature”. Scientific research needs to be conducted before specific outdoor water and
air temperature exposure recommendations can be established. See below for general
exposure recommendations. The following are only examples of what zoos in temperate
climates practice and they are not meant to serve as recommendations. Dortmund Zoo allows
otters access to the outside exhibit all year, but empties pool swim-water when the air
temperature falls below 5 o C (41 °F). When temperatures become extremely cold, around minus
10 o C (14 °F), then outdoor access is limited to short periods or when colder, totally restricted.
Chestnut Centre allows their giant otters access to unheated outside pond swim-water and
exhibit all year. Their otters swim in the unheated pond water all winter, even for short periods
during freezing temperatures. Duisburg Zoo (Germany) heats outdoor pool water to 15 o C (59
°F) in the winter and allows their giant otters outdoor access all year. Philadelphia Zoo’s (U.S.)
indoor dens and building are kept at 20 C o -21 o C (68 °F - 70 °F) all year. Outdoor pool water is
heated to 15 °C - 25 °C (59 - 77 °F) during the winter. Outdoor access is allowed for the entire
day at or above minus 7 o C (19.4 °F) (even in snow) and limited outdoor access is given during
lower temperatures. Otters are held inside if pool water falls below 10 o C (50 °F). All zoos
above provide continual access to heated indoor housing with pools or swim tanks/tubs during
the winter.
Following are some general outdoor water and air temperature exposure
recommendations. Giant otters seem to be intelligent enough to avoid air temperatures that are
too cold for them. I.e. they will only spend limited amounts of time outdoors when it is at
colder temperatures. In temperate climates, giant otters need access to indoor enclosures
that provide the conditions recommended within this manual, when they cannot carry out
144