International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

expansive enclosures are available and the amount of enrichment and privacy designs available
within an enclosure. The husbandry practices that can affect cub-rearing success include: how
well enclosures and nestbox, den, and natural underground den areas are isolated from human
disturbances and presence, how well caretakers limit and minimize their activities and carry
them out so that they do not disturb otters, if the otters are familiar and comfortable with their
caretakers, and if parental care and cub development, behavior, and health is monitored in a way
that does not cause disturbance to the otters.
When cubs are reared to independence, unfamiliar and temporarily separated animals are
introduced and then housed together, or otters are maintained to an old age in
inappropriate enclosure conditions or/and with inappropriate husbandry practices, this
does not validate that the enclosure conditions and/or husbandry practices used were
appropriate. (I.e. this does not mean that these circumstances are appropriate because such
outcomes have occurred.) It is essential that inappropriate enclosure conditions and
husbandry practices are not repeated or used at any other institution based on the
conclusions that such outcomes have occurred.
It is necessary that enclosures are designed or at least modified and husbandry practices
are changed so that they can provide/allow for the following conditions discussed below.
When modifications must be made and the construction/provision processes for the alterations
may disturb otters with cubs, they must be done before parturition. Most all modifications
must be done before parturition, although some minor changes, such as locking enclosure
building doors so that visitors/staff cannot enter etc., may be able to be done the day of
parturition when they can be completed without disturbing the otters. I.e. the otters must not see
or hear the alteration being made. Large/significant changes, such as installing extensive blinds,
visual barriers etc. around large areas of the enclosure, should be done before parturition. Even
if such changes can be done without the otters detecting that the modification is being made,
they should be done before parturition, as significant physical changes to/near the exhibit at or
after parturition, will likely disturb the otters.
It is necessary that every enclosure is appropriately furnished and designed to keep the otters
physically, mentally, and behaviorally healthy, whether otters are rearing cubs or not. I.e. it
is essential that within each indoor and outdoor giant otter enclosure the land to water
ratio is provided as recommended (i.e. enough land is offered), the recommended soft loose
natural substrate types, qualities, and depths cover nearly the entire land and floor area
(including dens), and at least the minimum recommended size deep digging area is
provided. (Note: each enclosure below 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size, requires a different land
to water area ratio based on its specific size. Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m² (6,458 ft²)
require other land to water ratios, as do enclosures above 600 m².) The other recommended
land and water area locations and designs and locations for nestboxes, dens and areas for
natural underground dens are also needed. These include the provision of plentiful
land/floor area bordering and extending away from the water’s edge, water area contour lines as
recommended, no more land area exposed to water edges than recommended, and nestboxes,
dens, and areas for underground dens located a sufficient distance away from the water’s edge.
See Section 3 above for the health problems that adults and cubs can develop when these
provisions are not provided. E.g. cub death can occur when enclosure surfaces remain very
damp/wet because of inappropriate substrates, land to water ratios, nestbox/den locations, and/or
other land and water area designs. See Chapter 2 Sections 1-2 and 5 (under what is needed to
keep areas dry) for the necessary substrates, land and water area designs and locations, and
locations for the nestboxes, dens, areas for the natural underground dens. The other
153