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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hear, that even familiar keepers are near their enclosure, the parents can become disturbed. If<br />
the otters directly see the keeper (whether the keeper is outside or inside the enclosure), even<br />
greater stress can result. Inappropriate enclosure conditions can also cause abnormally<br />
elevated or excessive levels of stress during cub-rearing (see Sections 3B above <strong>and</strong> 10B & C<br />
for more information). I.e. without appropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios [i.e. enough l<strong>and</strong> area],<br />
enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor substrates <strong>and</strong> deep digging area sizes, the parents' ability to<br />
successfully rear cubs can be adversely affected or seriously compromised.<br />
Even when disturbances are minimized as much as possible <strong>and</strong> video monitoring is used for<br />
observations, not all disturbances can be prevented. Some examples from the following two<br />
zoos’ experiences are discussed below to illustrate this point. (See other examples in Part C<br />
below.) (It is important to note that at the following two institutions, the cubs were reared in<br />
indoor housing that was blocked off to all humans, except for of the limited, minimized, <strong>and</strong><br />
restricted husb<strong>and</strong>ry actions taken by one or two primary/familiar caretakers. Nestbox <strong>and</strong> den<br />
areas were also restricted to the primary keepers. These indoor exhibits were/are not expansive<br />
in size.)<br />
For example, a light bulb burnt out in the keeper isle of an indoor building that the giant otters<br />
were housed in at Hagenbeck Tierpark <strong>and</strong> no other disturbance was reported to occur at that<br />
time. This seemingly insignificant event caused massive unrest <strong>and</strong> stress to the parents rearing<br />
their litter (Flügger 1997 & pers. comm.). Video monitoring was used to assess cub-health <strong>and</strong><br />
parental care.<br />
At Dortmund Zoo only the most necessary husb<strong>and</strong>ry actions were performed at parturition <strong>and</strong><br />
during cub-rearing <strong>and</strong> by only the two keepers most familiar with the otters. (I.e. except for<br />
having to h<strong>and</strong> feed antibiotics one time per day for 5 days, only quick feeding <strong>and</strong> on one<br />
occasion, on day 6 of the 7 days that cub-rearing took place, feces was quickly removed/dry<br />
spot cleaned in one exhibit area far from the nestboxes). Actions were carried out in such a way<br />
as to create the absolute minimum of disturbance. All movements were done very quietly <strong>and</strong><br />
tasks were completed as quickly as possible <strong>and</strong>, if possible, only when the otters were asleep.<br />
Movement <strong>and</strong> entrance was restricted/forbidden <strong>and</strong> allowed only in areas remote from the<br />
nestboxes (i.e. activity primarily occurred near the area feeding took place, which was called the<br />
“feed den”). The exhibit design allows the keeper to access the feed den <strong>and</strong> exhibit via an<br />
entrance isolated from the enclosure. The feed den, in the indoor enclosure, is located as far<br />
away from the nestboxes as possible, as is the behind-the-scenes keeper entrance to the indoor<br />
building. Infrared video cameras for each of the four nestboxes, another three video cameras<br />
positioned on the exhibit, <strong>and</strong> a baby sound monitor were previously installed in the inside giant<br />
otter exhibit. An area for monitoring <strong>and</strong> recording was also established in the otter house<br />
basement, a nearly soundproof room. On the day of parturition, the giant otter house was closed<br />
to all persons (i.e. public <strong>and</strong> zoo staff) except for of the two primary giant otter keepers. Video<br />
monitoring was used to assess cub-health <strong>and</strong> parental care. The otters were video-taped 24<br />
hours per day <strong>and</strong> taping was monitored “live” for 10-14 hours per day. Much was learned in<br />
just 7 days (i.e. nursing times, behaviors etc.). (Some previous litters were quietly watched<br />
from a hidden <strong>and</strong> isolated viewing area outside the exhibit <strong>and</strong> the otters were also isolated<br />
from human disturbances.)<br />
If the parents were awake, the slightest of noises, such as that coming from slowly <strong>and</strong> carefully<br />
opened doors <strong>and</strong> the unseen primary giant otter keeper quietly <strong>and</strong> quickly putting food in the<br />
feed den, resulted in nervous behavior, moderate cub abuse, <strong>and</strong> abnormal h<strong>and</strong>ling on both the<br />
parents parts (Sykes-Gatz 2002, pers. obs. & unpublished report). (When the term "abuse" is<br />
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