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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the husb<strong>and</strong>ry practices recommended during cub-rearing are also necessary to provide<br />
privacy. The only husb<strong>and</strong>ry practice that might not be necessary is the isolation of the entire<br />
enclosure from visitor viewing. If the enclosure is very expansive, i.e. well above 600m², this<br />
may likely not be required. When the enclosure is not very expansive it might need to be<br />
isolated from visitor viewing. E.g. the enclosure at Brasilia Zoo is 635m² <strong>and</strong> it has many<br />
natural underground dens, but the exhibit is also sunken well below visitor level <strong>and</strong> this<br />
contributed to additional privacy. Note: keeper activities were significantly minimized as well.<br />
For some litters, visitor viewing was also restricted. See Part A above. Section 12 below lists<br />
the institutions that used expansive enclosure designs <strong>and</strong>/or natural underground dens during<br />
successful cub-rearing <strong>and</strong> it includes a brief description of each enclosure. See throughout<br />
Chapter 2 for more details on some of the enclosures <strong>and</strong> cub-rearing experiences.<br />
The provision of expansive 1 complexly <strong>and</strong> naturally enriched enclosures with hills that<br />
offer otters ample area to dig underground dens is optimal. 1 Within this manual “expansive<br />
enclosure” means any enclosure that is 600 m 2 [6,458.4 ft²] or larger. The larger, more<br />
complex, <strong>and</strong> natural the enclosure, the more benefits gained. (The enclosure also requires the<br />
recommended l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area designs <strong>and</strong> locations [esp. appropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios<br />
that provide enough l<strong>and</strong>], substrates, deep digging area sizes, <strong>and</strong> hill designs <strong>and</strong> locations to<br />
offer these benefits.) This type of living area provides optimal enrichment <strong>and</strong> living<br />
conditions for giant otters <strong>and</strong> it is very important to help aid successful cub-rearing. This<br />
is because the larger the enclosure, the further parents can get away from human<br />
disturbances <strong>and</strong> presence during cub-rearing (i.e. the more privacy they have) <strong>and</strong> as well,<br />
natural underground dens provide additional visual <strong>and</strong> acoustic isolation. The otters are<br />
offered an optimal area where they can carry out, to the fullest extent possible in captivity, the<br />
innate terrestrial behaviors that are among the most important activities needed to allow these<br />
animals to significantly reduce or prevent the negative responses (i.e. stress, nervousness,<br />
boredom etc.) that can occur <strong>and</strong> cause significant problems (e.g. litter loss) during cub-rearing.<br />
Dens that the otters dig themselves provide a great amount of isolation in combination with an<br />
expansive enclosure or an enclosure that is totally isolated. These den types are highly<br />
recommended <strong>and</strong> are very important to promote successful cub-rearing in all enclosures.<br />
Wild Pteronura use the multiple underground dens that they dig within their vast territory, to<br />
rear cubs <strong>and</strong> sleep in. When given the appropriate conditions, i.e. substrate types <strong>and</strong> hill<br />
designs as recommended, captive Pteronura will also dig many underground dens throughout<br />
the expanse of the hillsides/banks provided <strong>and</strong> use them for the same purposes. Underground<br />
dens are fairly visually <strong>and</strong> acoustically isolated, i.e. more so than a wooden nestbox, natural for<br />
otters to rear their litters in, <strong>and</strong> private <strong>and</strong> safe feeling for the otters. They do not have to be<br />
serviced or maintained by keepers because the soft loose substrates in them keep the dens clean,<br />
dry, <strong>and</strong> sanitary when l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios, other l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area designs <strong>and</strong> locations,<br />
substrates, <strong>and</strong> hillside locations <strong>and</strong> designs are provided as recommended. (No bedding<br />
materials need to be offered within them.) The fact alone that humans usually do not enter<br />
underground dens (esp. in comparison to a nestbox, den containing a nestbox, or artificial<br />
underground nestbox), adds to feeling of seclusion <strong>and</strong> safety from human intrusions <strong>and</strong><br />
disturbances.<br />
<strong>Giant</strong> otter enclosures <strong>and</strong> any buildings housing such enclosures should be designed <strong>and</strong><br />
located within the zoo so that they can be isolated from all visitors/public <strong>and</strong> zoo staff<br />
during cub-rearing, yet still allow minimal keeper activity in limited areas without<br />
creating human disturbance. It is necessary to provide multiple nestboxes, dens<br />
containing nestboxes, or natural underground dens where human entrance can be<br />
restricted during cub-rearing (see below). Nestboxes, dens, <strong>and</strong> areas for underground<br />
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