International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

Chapter 1 for studies that should be conducted and information that should be recorded to help
further knowledge.
When video camera monitoring is used, then live/recorded coverage could be offered so
visitors can see what is going on with the otters without disturbing them. Visitor areas for
viewing, e.g. pre-recorded or live events etc., should be located well away from the otters’
enclosures to help discourage visitors from staying around the enclosures/buildings. This will
offer the visitors an enjoyable and educational experience. If video monitoring is not used,
educational signs can be displayed, e.g. at zoo entrance gates etc., to help explain why the otters
are not on display. E.g. how critical their situation is in captivity and in the wild and why it is
important that the otters not be disturbed can be explained.
When video cameras are not available, otters might be able to be quietly watched from an
area outside of the otter enclosure that hides and isolates the observer, as long as the otters
are unaware of and undisturbed by the observer’s presence. For example, a small hidden
viewing area, such as a small hole in a solid containment barrier wall, may be able to be
successfully used in indoor buildings or outdoor enclosures to view otters in their enclosures.
Such viewing areas should only be just large enough for the observer to look through (i.e. the
width/length of the observer’s eye/s), they should be covered over with a piece of cloth etc.
when not in use, and they should never be placed near dens or nestboxes where otters will likely
detect human presence. Blinds, e.g. a hunting blind, with small hidden viewing holes, may be
able to be used for outdoor enclosures. If a recording system is not available at all, baby
monitors, located near dens with nestboxes and the receiving monitor located well outside of
and isolated from the enclosure, could be used for sound monitoring.
No substantial changes should be made to the parents’ physical (i.e. relocation to a new
enclosure, significant physical changes to or within the exhibit etc.) or social (i.e. removal of
any family/group member) environment when the mother is close to parturition or when
parents are cub-rearing. Both the mother and father should be allowed to rear their
offspring together. Optimally, cubs should be fully weaned before isolation/privacy is
gradually reduced. Note: decisions on when to gradually reduce isolation must be made
dependent on individual parental behavior and cub progress. E.g. some parents may feel
comfortable with less isolation when their cubs are weaning, although others may not. How
parents will react, is dependent on the many factors aforementioned. Isolation should always be
gradually reduced, rather than suddenly eliminated.
Just before parturition and during cub-rearing, enclosures (i.e. every area where otters have
access to) should be isolated from keepers, other zoo staff, and visitors, yet still allow
minimal keeper activity (i.e. feeding, very limited or no cleaning) in limited areas without
creating disturbance. Buildings, in which the otters may be housed, should also be closed
off to all persons, except for of minimal access by the primary keeper. (See above for how
buildings and entire enclosures can be isolated.) The nestboxes and den areas that contain
nestboxes should be closed off to all keepers, even the primary keepers, staff, and visitors.
These areas should be able to be completely isolated from all humans. When they cannot
be totally isolated, keepers should not get near these areas and simple enclosure
modification techniques (see above) should be used to help provide some privacy. Even
when these areas can be totally isolated, keepers should stay away from the general area
that they are located as much as possible. Keepers should stay as far away as possible
from natural underground dens and not enter them (unless necessary for the survival of
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