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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this study <strong>and</strong> it is believed that they will likely not reproduce again because of their old age.<br />
Section 3B above describes how later on, this pair recovered from their mental <strong>and</strong> behavioral<br />
health problems, because they continued to be kept in appropriate enclosure conditions after the<br />
completion of the above study.<br />
On the other h<strong>and</strong>, at Brasilia Zoo, where the exhibit <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> area (nearly entirely covered<br />
with soft loose natural soil) are expansive <strong>and</strong> many natural underground dens exist, parents<br />
were not stressed by usual familiar activity that was somewhat limited. Many litters were reared<br />
successfully at this zoo by several pairs of parents. This zoo has two 635m 2 (6,835.14ft²) seminatural<br />
giant otter exhibits located directly adjacent to each other [i.e. only separated by a fence<br />
containment barrier] which adds additional privacy from the public on one enclosure side. Each<br />
exhibit has a 105 m 2 (1,130.22 ft²) pool <strong>and</strong> an 85% l<strong>and</strong> to 15% water ratio. The extensive<br />
hillsides that surround 2/3 of the exhibit’s l<strong>and</strong> area perimeter also provide/provided ample area<br />
for the parents to dig many natural underground dens (the top of the hills rise nearly to the<br />
visitor level). Additionally, much of the l<strong>and</strong> is located well below the visitor level. The<br />
parents’ rear/reared their cubs in this enriched stimulating exhibit with underground dens<br />
successfully. For example, the parents were not stressed, when the primary giant otter keeper<br />
quickly <strong>and</strong> quietly entered the enclosure (with the otters present in the same enclosure) to dry<br />
spot clean the feces <strong>and</strong> left over fish (Louzada da Silva, pers. comm. 1998; Brasilia Zoo, pers.<br />
comm. 2002). The keeper left the enclosure immediately after this quick servicing. As well,<br />
parents there also raised their cubs successfully when visitors had normal viewing access to the<br />
exhibit, although for some litters a tall wooden barrier was purposely erected to restrict visitor<br />
access <strong>and</strong> viewing. The design of this exhibit alone, i.e. expansive semi-natural exhibit <strong>and</strong><br />
l<strong>and</strong> area size <strong>and</strong> natural underground dens, offers parents rearing cubs a great deal of privacy<br />
<strong>and</strong> isolation from human disturbances. (The fact that the exhibit is well below visitor level also<br />
contributed to privacy.) It as well offers parents an enriched stimulating environment (with not<br />
only appropriate but optimal enclosure conditions) <strong>and</strong> this too is a very important factor that<br />
contributes to the success of cub-rearing.<br />
Part B.<br />
<strong>Husb<strong>and</strong>ry</strong> Practices <strong>and</strong> Enclosure Designs/Modifications for Cub-Rearing<br />
The most important management practice needed to promote successful giant otter cub<br />
rearing is the isolation of the parents from human disturbances (visual <strong>and</strong> acoustic) <strong>and</strong><br />
presence (zoo staff <strong>and</strong> visitors) during cub rearing. (Duplaix-Hall 1975; Autuori & Deutsch<br />
1977; Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992; Wünnemann 1995; Flügger 1997; Sykes 1997-99 &<br />
1998/2002, Sykes-Gatz 2001 & unpublished reports, 2003; “Genealogical Meeting…” 1998;<br />
Louzada da Silva, pers. comm.; Corredor, unpublished report, 2003; Dortmund Zoo staff, pers.<br />
comm..) This is the most important management factor responsible for successful parentrearing<br />
of giant otter litters in zoos world-wide <strong>and</strong> historically (Sykes 1998/2002). The<br />
success of parents rearing their cubs can also be intricately effected by <strong>and</strong> interrelated<br />
with the quality, design, furnishings, size, <strong>and</strong> location of indoor <strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosures,<br />
as well as husb<strong>and</strong>ry <strong>and</strong> management practices. (See Parts A & C for more information on<br />
other factors that can affect success.) Enclosure conditions that can affect cub-rearing success<br />
include: the appropriateness of l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios, l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor substrates, deep digging area<br />
sizes, other l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area designs <strong>and</strong> locations, enclosure size, <strong>and</strong> the designs <strong>and</strong><br />
locations of dens, nestboxes, areas/hillsides for natural underground dens, animal shift doors,<br />
<strong>and</strong> keeper doors. They also include whether natural otter dug underground dens <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
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