International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

those just listed, should also be offered outdoors whether or not indoor enclosures are provided,
for similar and other reasons. (See Section 4 for more information on natural furnishings.)
If necessary, at least part of an outdoor enclosure can be covered with a roof or some other
material to help keep at least one enclosure area dry when it rains and it can provide shade as
well. As well an area (e.g. quite a bit larger than the size of a nestbox) could be constructed with
natural materials for otters to go under when it rains. Enclosures should not be so shaded from
the sun, i.e. by trees, bushes, buildings, etc., that the shade would inhibit the land area from
sufficiently drying (although inappropriate land and water area designs and locations and
substrates are primarily the reason that land and floors do not remain dry enough, so these
conditions must be corrected in all cases). Giant otters should also be provided with areas
where they can lay in the direct sunlight, as they enjoy sunning themselves.
Section 10
Note:
“Cub” refers to a giant otter that is between approx. one day to six months old.
“Juvenile” refers to a giant otter that is approx. between six months to one year old.
“Sub-adult” refers to a giant otter that is between approx. one year to two years old.
“Successfully reared cub” is a cub that lives to one year or older.
“Successfully reared litter” is where at least one cub in the litter survives to one year old or
older.
“Den” refers to an individual man-made room, usually small in size [e.g. 4 m² - 9m 2 ] (43.05 ft²
- 96.88 ft²) and constructed with concrete, wood, etc., where an otter has access to. A nestbox
can be placed or animals can be briefly held (i.e. for enclosure cleaning, etc.) in a den. Dens
are off-exhibit and they do not serve as a nestbox.
“Nestbox” refers to areas that are only large enough for the otters (including cubs) to sleep.
Nestboxes are man-made (i.e. constructed with wood, concrete, artificial rockwork etc.) and
they are either placed above or beneath the ground/floor.
“Underground den” and “natural underground den” refer to a den that has been dug by the
otters themselves (i.e. dug into natural substrates and underground) and the otters can use this
den to sleep/rest and keep cubs in.
Part A. Parental Behavior & Litter Loss/Stress Caused by Human Disturbances
All zoos world-wide and historically with successful parent reared litters (i.e. where at least
one cub in a litter survived to one year or more), provided parents with privacy and
isolation/seclusion from human disturbances (visual and acoustic) and presence (zoo staff
and visitors) at parturition and during cub-rearing (Sykes 1997-99 & 1998/2000, Sykes-
Gatz 2001 and unpublished study, 2003). Either their management methods and/or
“enclosure design” alone permitted privacy and this was and is the most important
management factor needed to help parents rear litters successfully. “Enclosure design” means
that the enclosures were natural or semi-natural and expansive, at least 600m² (6,458.4 ft²) or
more in size, and the otters could dig their own dens underground to keep their cubs in. (Within
this section, the general management methods that were used at these institutions during
successful cub-rearing, are included. The “enclosure designs” used at these institutions are
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