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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dens (i.e. hillsides) should be located as far away as possible from public/visitor areas,<br />
keeper access areas/doors to enclosures <strong>and</strong> buildings, areas where food will be offered,<br />
<strong>and</strong> from where keepers would need to service enclosures, e.g. to empty pools etc., <strong>and</strong><br />
shift/lock out animals. They also should either be located <strong>and</strong> positioned within enclosures<br />
or/<strong>and</strong> modified or the area immediately around them modified so that the otters that are<br />
within the dens <strong>and</strong> nestboxes cannot see keepers performing necessary servicing (i.e.<br />
entering or cleaning enclosures, feeding, etc.).<br />
Nestboxes <strong>and</strong> dens containing nestboxes should be located <strong>and</strong> designed so that they can<br />
be isolated from all humans during cub-rearing. If they cannot be totally isolated, simple<br />
enclosure modification techniques made before parturition might be possible to help provide<br />
some privacy (see below). At least 2 nestboxes must be offered when natural underground<br />
dens are not available, although at least three or more nestboxes, each placed within a<br />
separate den, should be provided. Nestboxes should be placed within dens to offer<br />
additional privacy. When natural underground dens are not available, a nestbox, esp. those<br />
made of wood, placed in a den will offer the otters more isolation from human disturbances <strong>and</strong><br />
presence than when it is just placed somewhere within the enclosure area. Multiple nestboxes<br />
<strong>and</strong> dens will offer parent’s rearing litters an opportunity to choose which area they feel most<br />
comfortable <strong>and</strong> safer in (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992, Wünnemann 1995, <strong>and</strong> Flügger<br />
1997). It is important that parents feel that they can move their cubs to a safer feeling<br />
den/nestbox, especially after a disturbance has occurred. E.g. Wünnemann (1995) reported<br />
giant otter parents at Hagenbeck Tierpark used multiple nestboxes when they changed the<br />
locations where they kept their cubs during cub-rearing. Dortmund Zoo staff reported the same<br />
<strong>and</strong> that the parents would move their cubs to different nestboxes sometimes as many as one or<br />
more times during the same day. At least two dens should be located so that they are a<br />
distance apart from each other so that the otters can feel as if they are moving cubs to a<br />
significantly different, more remote, <strong>and</strong> seemingly safer location. The additional provision of<br />
two interconnecting dens is also recommended for easier shifting <strong>and</strong> temporary separation of<br />
animals etc.. In climates that are warm all year around, satellite nestboxes or den areas with<br />
nestboxes can be connected to <strong>and</strong> located behind outdoor enclosures, as long as they can be<br />
isolated, for additional privacy. Note: multiple dens should be provided within all enclosures<br />
for various reasons. Indoor enclosures, whether they are attached to outdoor enclosures or<br />
not, although must provide at least two or more off-exhibit dens in addition to the indoor<br />
l<strong>and</strong> area that is necessary for otters to carry out all living activities that are too cold to do<br />
outdoors.<br />
Dens should be constructed with solid non-transparent containment barriers, such as concrete or<br />
tile, so that they provide maximum visual <strong>and</strong> acoustic privacy during cub-rearing. When<br />
although, fence/lattice barriers are used they should be covered with wood/plywood boards<br />
during cub rearing to offer additional privacy <strong>and</strong> prevent cubs from crawling through the<br />
fence/lattice mesh. Each den needs a keeper access door <strong>and</strong> they also need an animal shift door<br />
accessing the larger enclosure areas <strong>and</strong> possibly, the adjoining den depending on exhibit <strong>and</strong><br />
den placement. When the keeper or animal shift doors/gates to the dens are constructed of<br />
fence/lattice they also should be covered with plywood/wood or other non-transparent materials<br />
or the shift doors could be replaced with a non-transparent shift door. (Note: when fence/lattice<br />
is used for one of the containment barrier sides within a den, the den could also be used for an<br />
area to perform husb<strong>and</strong>ry training or as an area, in addition to other enclosure areas, to use for<br />
the introduction of unfamiliar/temporarily separated animals. See Section 13.) It is optimal<br />
when long narrow tunnels, made of wood/plywood, are connected to the nestbox entrance holes<br />
as they help increase privacy, keep nestboxes free of draft, help reduce tracked in water, <strong>and</strong><br />
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