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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Inbreeding, physical, behavioral, <strong>and</strong> pair compatibility problems should be considered<br />
for repeated breeding or rearing failure, providing appropriate husb<strong>and</strong>ry <strong>and</strong><br />
management is used during cub-rearing <strong>and</strong> at all other times. Hagenbeck <strong>and</strong> Wünnemann<br />
(1992) suggest that giant otters “show individual preferences when accepting a mate”; hence,<br />
repairing mates should be considered when pairs show clear signs of extensive pair<br />
incompatibility. Although a pair should not be determined incompatible just on the<br />
observations of brief temporary quarrels, growling, etc. seen between group members during<br />
the normal day. For example, it is quite common that captive giant otters, even truly compatible<br />
pairs, will growl at each other <strong>and</strong> sometimes even briefly fight (not inflicting injury), when<br />
they are eating fish. They will often try to keep some distance apart when they are eating. One<br />
individual may beg or show the other that he/she wants the other’s fish <strong>and</strong> one or the other may<br />
growl or make defensive/offensive bodily movements in addition. [These behaviors are also<br />
seen among wild Pteronura family group members. At least among adults “each otter catches<br />
its own prey <strong>and</strong> consumes it immediately…<strong>and</strong> there is no food sharing” (Duplaix 1980).]<br />
Many other negative, aggressive, or domineering behaviors must be displayed <strong>and</strong> on a<br />
continuing basis to determine if the pair is incompatible. Note: the individual “personality type”<br />
(i.e. very dominant, submissive, patient, nervous etc.) of each otter can affect pairing success,<br />
therefore this should be considered when selecting possible mates <strong>and</strong> partners as well.<br />
It as well should not be assumed because of certain behaviors, that the presence of fathers<br />
during cub-rearing will have a negative impact on the success of cub-rearing. For example,<br />
it seems to be normal, both in captivity <strong>and</strong> in the wild (Staib 2002), that fathers will often take<br />
cubs out of the den/nestbox <strong>and</strong> the mothers will immediately take action to return the cubs to<br />
the den/nestbox. When this behavior is not abnormally frequent or excessive, it should not be<br />
determined as harmful. Parents at Dortmund Zoo (Sykes-Gatz pers. obs.), Hagenbeck Tierpark<br />
(Flügger pers. comm.) <strong>and</strong> Cali Zoo (Corredor pers. comm.) have all been observed to carry out<br />
these behaviors. In at least the first days after birth, mothers have also been seen to be a little<br />
protective over their cubs when the father tries to become involved with the cubs. This as well<br />
should not be seen as abnormal behavior. Soon afterwards, the father will become equally<br />
involved (<strong>and</strong> his involvement well accepted by his mate) in the care of the cubs. Providing<br />
multiple nestboxes or having multiple underground dens gives fathers a place to go <strong>and</strong><br />
mother’s a little free space during these times. As well, it is crucial that enclosures are properly<br />
designed <strong>and</strong> furnished to help occupy the father’s <strong>and</strong> mother’s attentions on something else<br />
rather than only the cubs.<br />
It may also be possible that when siblings from the same litter are reared <strong>and</strong> reach sexual<br />
maturity together, they will not breed if they are housed together as a potential breeding<br />
pair. This situation <strong>and</strong> failure to reproduce is known to have occurred in three cases, at three<br />
different zoos (Louzada da Silva, pers. comm. provided information about the pairs’ family<br />
history at Brasilia <strong>and</strong> Sorrocaba Zoos; Wünnemann 1991). For example, at Hagenbeck<br />
Tierpark, a female was kept with her brother, who she grew up with, until she was at least 3<br />
years old. This pair had rare <strong>and</strong> failed mating attempts <strong>and</strong> no pregnancies resulted.<br />
Wünnemann noted that this male was not well experienced at mating [maybe he did not<br />
penetrate the female]. This pair was then separated, the female was paired with a new partner<br />
<strong>and</strong> she had a litter. A litter was born at Cuiaba Zoo in 1994 <strong>and</strong> a pair from this litter was<br />
transferred to Sorrocaba Zoo <strong>and</strong> no litters were born from this pair during their lifetime,<br />
although they were kept together their entire lives (which was at least 6 years or more). (More<br />
detailed information regarding this pair is not known, so other explanations for breeding failure<br />
may also have been possible.) At Brasilia Zoo, a brother <strong>and</strong> sister that were reared together<br />
were eventually separated, but they were kept in visual-acoustic-olfactory contact with one<br />
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