International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

underground dens do not need to be serviced in this way when the recommended soil types and
hillside designs are offered. No bedding materials need to be offered within them.) Nestboxes
must be able to remain dry enough, without servicing, for long periods during cub-rearing.
(Appropriate enclosure designs and substrates must also be provided to keep the nestboxes dry.)
It is unknown if underground nestboxes would be able to possess these qualities. If they do not,
it may be difficult or impossible to not disturb parents during cub-rearing when the nestboxes
require servicing.
Infra-red video cameras with microphones, placed in each nestbox, den, and enclosure
area to monitor the entire enclosure and viewing monitors (with recorders) located well
outside of and isolated from the enclosure area/housing, are highly recommended to
monitor cub development, behavior, and health and parental care without disturbance to
the otters (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992, Wünnemann 1995, and Flügger 1997).
[Hagenbeck Tierpark (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992) was the first zoo to use this method
with giant otters and they highly recommend its use, as it allows parents rearing cubs maximum
isolation. Since, at least two other zoos, Dortmund and Cali Zoos, have also used this method
with great success.] Microphones for monitoring vocalizations are very important, as they
present the other half of the “full picture”. The vocalizations of cubs and parents will tell as
much about what is occurring, as visual pictures will. E.g. otter vocalizations are just as
important to determine the health and contentment of the cubs and parents, as are visual
pictures. When giant otter cubs are crying more often than usual, this indicates that they are
hungry, feeling neglected, being abused, or feeling sick. Also, it is much easier to determine
when cubs are actually nursing, because during this activity they make “nursing hums” and
display “tail wagging”. (See Chapter 3 for information on these behaviors.) If recording
systems are not available with microphones, a baby sound monitor can be used, although “half
of the picture” will be missing during play back of a video. Section 14 below describes ideas
for how to install video cameras in nestboxes.
With a video monitoring system caretakers can determine if emergency intervention is needed
e.g. when cubs need to be pulled for handrearing etc.. Determining the location and activity of
the parents and cubs by video monitoring can also indicate the optimal times that exist for the
keeper to service the enclosure and feed the animals. E.g. when the parents are sleeping, this is
the best time to quickly carry out minimal cleaning and when otters are located far from the
feeding area or areas that needs to be serviced, servicing can be carried out with less disturbance
to the otters. Much can be learned about cub development etc. and parental care with a
monitoring system as described. It is crucial that this information is recorded and shared with
the scientific community to increase overall knowledge. For example, the frequency and length
of nursing activity should be monitored as it can be used for comparisons to other litters, i.e. to
detect problems etc.. It also can be used to help better formulate handrearing guidelines.
Parental cub abuse and neglect in reaction to disturbances, i.e. any actions carried out by
humans near and in enclosures etc., should also be closely monitored and recorded. Negative
reactions to human disturbances may not occur immediately after the disturbances have taken
place (see Part A above). The time, type, and degree of both the disturbances and parental
behaviors should be closely monitored either from the recommended hidden viewing areas or
on video monitors/tapes. This information should be recorded on an on-going basis to
evaluate the actual presence of negative responses. This way appropriate correlation can
be made to identify what disturbs the otters and what husbandry practices are
necessary/must be changed to prevent such disturbances. This also can identify enclosure
modifications or conditions that may be needed for future litters to provide privacy. See
158