International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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Table 1: Pteronura brasiliensis Status in the Wild: “The giant otter's original distribution was across much of South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, eastern Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Today, the species has declined dramatically in distribution and has probably been eliminated in Uruguay and Argentina. With an estimated total population of only 1,000 to 5,000 individuals, the giant river otter is considered highly vulnerable to extinction. In a recent analysis conducted by World Wildlife Fund, the species was assessed as the large Neotropical vertebrate species most vulnerable to extinction. It is also classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and is listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).” © [2002] WWF Guianas (also known as World Wide Fund For Nature and World Wildlife Fund). Giant Brazilian Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) Endangered “The giant otter is the largest of the 13 otter species and is found only in the rainforests and wetlands of South America, living in large rivers, lakes, and swamps. This species has declined dramatically in distribution and has probably been eliminated in Uruguay and Argentina. Historically hunted for pelts, the species is now threatened by increased human colonisation of tropical lowland rainforests. The resulting destruction of forests leads to soil erosion and a decrease in food sources for the otters. Other threats include over-fishing, illegal hunting, mining, and water and land pollution.” © 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM CITES-listed species database : “Taxon : Pteronura brasiliensis (Gmelin, 1788) Common name: English - Giant Brazilian Otter; Giant Otter Distribution: Argentina (ex?) , Bolivia , Brazil , Colombia , Ecuador , French Guiana , Guyana , Paraguay , Peru, Suriname , Uruguay (ex?) , Venezuela (ex - extinct) CITES Identification Manual Reference : A-112.004.025.001 Legislation Details : CITES I 01/07/75” © UNEP-WCMC. 21 November, 2002. UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species
Chapter 1 Husbandry and Management Problems and Possible Solutions: An International Historical Overview Synopsis In the past, there has been little information on captive Pteronura husbandry, management, biology (esp. reproduction and physiology), and physical and mental/behavioral health that has been maintained, studied, published or shared among zoos. Little communication and cooperation exists between many institutions holding this species. Few zoos have exchanged giant otters across, or even within, international boundaries. Many zoos currently hold giant otters singly or in single sex groups or are in need of unrelated animals to prevent further inbreeding. Very few zoos in the world have had successful reproduction. A great number of litter losses occurred because parents, stressed by human disturbances and presence, failed to properly care for their cubs. This species requires very special and complex care and housing facilities to rear offspring with success. Often enclosures have been designed without these considerations in mind. It is not uncommon that giant otters are kept in inappropriate enclosure conditions, i.e. without enough land area because of inappropriate land to water area ratios or enough soft loose natural substrates or with insufficient size deep digging areas. Unfamiliar otters are sometimes introduced incorrectly. Appropriate/safe vaccinations for some diseases are not available or are not used in many countries. Severe inbreeding was likely to have prevented the survival of all of the cubs born at one institution. (The total number of cubs born at the aforementioned institution represents a significant number of litter losses compared to the historical number of cubs born worldwide). Cub, juvenile, and sub-adult deaths resulting from medical illness not related to litter loss caused by human disturbances, remain a problem and this aspect is largely unstudied on an international level. As a result, many problems have existed worldwide and historically (Sykes 1997-99; Sykes- Gatz 1998/2002 & 2001 and unpublished reports). These problems include high cub mortality, a small population, severe inbreeding, mental, behavioral, and physical health problems, injuries, deaths, and a significant number of potential breeding otters being held singly or in single sex groups. As well, many questions still exist about this species in captivity. If these problems are not resolved, creating a healthy self-sustaining captive population will be impossible. The captive population may also soon disappear and this may pose a greater threat to the already endangered wild giant otters. Giant otters in zoos can play an important role to raise public awareness about this endangered species (IUCN 1999) and its habitat. (See Table 1 for status.) Studies on P. brasiliensis in captivity have contributed to overall knowledge and conservation/management strategies for this species in the wild (Schenck, pers. comm., 1999). For example, because very few P. brasiliensis field studies exist, research on life history data (i.e. morphology, reproductive characteristics, dietary habits, behaviors/vocalizations, genetics, etc.) of captive animals is used as a reference source for wild populations. Also, the discussion of a captive P. brasiliensis cub death due to parvovirus (Wünnemann 1992) inspired Schenck, Staib, and Storch (1997) and Schenck and Staib (1998) to conduct a study on the influence of domestic animal diseases on P. brasiliensis wild populations/survival. Additionally, Wünnemann (1992) reported captive born litters that failed to survive because the mother was under stress (i.e. as stress induced milkdeficiencies have been caused by human disturbances). This study was taken into consideration when strategies were developed for eco-tourism management in protected P. brasiliensis habitat 15
Page 1 and 2: International Giant Otter Studbook
Page 3 and 4: Dear reader, With this, the second
Page 5 and 6: Section 2 Introduction to Substrate
Page 7 and 8: Parental Behavior Overview.........
Page 9 and 10: Introduction This manual is a secon
Page 11 and 12: Contributing Institutions/Individua
Page 13 and 14: Dortmund Zoo: Current Director: Dr.
Page 15: Giant Otter Characteristics (The fo
Page 19 and 20: informal international network has
Page 21 and 22: are only released into the wild, th
Page 23 and 24: malfunctions, due to severe inbreed
Page 25 and 26: maturity (i.e. at 2 years old), the
Page 27 and 28: emaining 3 institutions bred otters
Page 29 and 30: elow 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size
Page 31 and 32: difficulties/abnormalities to a mod
Page 33 and 34: are to the water, but it is also de
Page 35 and 36: deep digging areas as recommended,
Page 37 and 38: greater problems. I.e. the ability
Page 39 and 40: additions that can be made to enclo
Page 41 and 42: (esp. around approx. 10 to 11 years
Page 43 and 44: Hagenbecks Tierpark Giant Otter Vac
Page 45 and 46: Dietary Related Problems: Diarrhea
Page 47 and 48: times over 10 years) then disappear
Page 49 and 50: Thyroid Malfunctions: see Chapter 1
Page 51 and 52: unpublished report 1997). His hind
Page 53 and 54: vitamin B 1 tablet and one 400 IU v
Page 55 and 56: otters were exposed to in their enc
Page 57 and 58: animal, e.g. for serious/life threa
Page 59 and 60: conditions/problems can be identifi
Page 61 and 62: that the otters are very familiar a
Page 63 and 64: Section 5 Handrearing Captive-Born
Page 65 and 66: Chapter 5 for how to measure, Chapt
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proper authorities (i.e. park offic
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oth cubs were adopted by a wild ott
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Chapter 2: Husbandry and Management
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The following conditions (i.e. Numb
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The provision of the conditions lis
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proportionately increased and the w
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does not offer the same advantages
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*Note: Duplaix’s guidelines for o
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dry easily, drain well, and be resi
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It is necessary that every indoor a
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Deep Digging Area Necessary For Eac
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play, exercise etc. on. Note: when
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Cleaning Procedures for Substrates
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[4”] in width, could be placed 10
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The aforementioned problems are cau
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difficulties/abnormalities involvin
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they could cause similar walking di
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It is not uncommon that pink foot/t
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No additional or detailed informati
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provided as recommended, so that ot
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housed. It also may be that the lon
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or high humidity, esp. extended per
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dry areas in enclosures should also
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These husbandry provisions produce
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underground den building which is a
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more unsuitable the enclosure land
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unfamiliar and temporarily separate
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exposed to similar situations as ju
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inappropriate the enclosure conditi
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study. They also have been successf
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furnishings will also remain drier
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Live growing bamboo springs back up
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Section 5 Locations and Designs for
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all substrates) with/without vegeta
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indoors. Otters can also use each c
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Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m
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other than substrates, and toys fro
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to help prevent water filtration/dr
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Section 10B discusses the locations
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areas may be sufficient when otters
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their normal daily terrestrial acti
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described below and in Section 12 b
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hear, that even familiar keepers ar
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nervous in behavior even during nor
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expansive enclosures are available
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the husbandry practices recommended
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keep cubs from crawling out (Duplai
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Chapter 1 for studies that should b
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practices and enclosure designs all
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care for the cubs (Schenck & Schenc
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was moved to another enclosure (Gat
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Inbreeding, physical, behavioral, a
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underground dens in this expansive
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Section 12 Natural Underground Dens
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22.34 ft] (11 sites) ; Kabo creek (
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Section 13 Den Construction “Den
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should not be introduced with physi
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door) could instead be made in the
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Section 15 Toys & Methods for Addit
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Although once items such as cardboa
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e designed or modified with these c
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Section 18 Introducing Unfamiliar &
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have been housed together and then
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contact introduction, i.e. to stop
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Section 19 Diet and Feeding Only go
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Cuiaba Zoo in Brazil (Marcato de Ol
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are consumed in varying amounts acc
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Captive giant otters have been obse
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part of the target. The target we u
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to secure the guillotine door with
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it stays close to the target. This
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these births may go undetected. Ult
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those working with her, from being
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ody temperatures to be taken, when
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abnormally frequent or excessive, i
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with a male (other than growing up
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of course, because information rega
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seen entering the shelter alone, bu
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At Hagenbeck Tierpark, Wünnemann (
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52.5 cm [20.6"]. It is assumed that
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cub weight growth curve in Graph 2
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contain glucose rather than sucrose
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and frequency after each toileting/
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Section 4 Toileting: To produce eli
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when no other better formula is ava
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prepared artificial milk replacers
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avoid dietary problems and help cub
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formula is accomplished. When cubs
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suggested above. The same feeding f
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successfully can often be difficult
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should then be allowed to lick the
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The general guideline that food/for
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very gently dipped in the bowl into
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enough), and explore while under su
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dig into, well-draining etc.) are n
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ecome healthy and their housing can
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Section 16 Companion Cubs and Handr
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Cubs must exercise and explore to p
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Table 3 : Summary of the internatio
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Table 5 : International giant otter
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Days/ Months Sex Weight/Length (ent
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Table 7: Adult Giant Otter Weights
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Graph 2 : Giant Otter Cub Weight Gr
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Duplaix, N. 1980. Observations on t
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asiliensis, Gmelin, 1788) No Zooló
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Otter Colloquium Pietermaritzburg 1
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