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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for indoor enclosures that attach to outdoor enclosures <strong>and</strong> Section 9 for more information on<br />
such enclosures.)<br />
Individual den size ranges from 4.5 m 2 to 9.5 m 2 (48.4 ft² to 102.3 ft²) <strong>and</strong> animal shift<br />
doors measure 41 cm (16") wide x 41 cm – 59 cm (16" - 23") high. Each den needs a keeper<br />
access door <strong>and</strong> they also need an animal shift door accessing the larger enclosure areas <strong>and</strong><br />
possibly, the adjoining den depending on exhibit <strong>and</strong> den placement. Dens should be<br />
constructed with solid non-transparent containment barriers, such as concrete or tile, so<br />
they provide maximum visual <strong>and</strong> acoustic privacy during cub-rearing. If although,<br />
fence/lattice barriers are used they should be covered with wood/plywood boards during<br />
cub rearing to offer additional privacy <strong>and</strong> prevent cubs from crawling through the fence/lattice<br />
mesh. Strong fence/lattice barriers need mesh size that prevents entrapment of body parts (toes,<br />
feet, <strong>and</strong> head). Fence/lattice mesh size that is 5 cm x 5 cm (2" x 2") or 5 cm x 20 cm (2" x 8")<br />
have been used for a containment barrier for one side of the den. Fence mesh size of 2.5 cm x<br />
2.5 cm (1" x 1") has also been used. When small fence mesh is used, it is advisable to place<br />
feed gates within the fence barrier. For example, a feed gate could be 26 cm x 15 cm (10" x 6")<br />
in size <strong>and</strong> have three evenly spaced bars over the opening to prevent otters from putting their<br />
heads through the feed gate. When fence/lattice is used for one of the containment barrier sides<br />
within a den, the den could also be used for an area to perform husb<strong>and</strong>ry training or as an area,<br />
in addition to other enclosure areas, to use for the introduction of unfamiliar/temporarily<br />
separated animals. (See below.) A small border/edge (e.g. made of wood boards) can be<br />
placed/fixed along the outside bottom edge of containment barriers that are not solid (i.e. fence,<br />
lattice etc.) to prevent loose floor/l<strong>and</strong> substrates from pushing through containment barriers.<br />
This could also help prevent cubs from crawling between barrier mesh. Keeper access<br />
doors/gates <strong>and</strong> animal shift doors/gates to the dens should be designed so that substrates (or<br />
even toys etc.) will not block the door or gates’ path/movement/tracks. The animal shift <strong>and</strong><br />
keeper door/gate frames should be positioned (raised) somewhat above, e.g. approx. 10 cm [4”],<br />
the surface height of the intended substrates to help prevent this from occurring. If the keeper<br />
doors or shift gates are not already designed (e.g. raised) to help prevent substrates from<br />
blocking them, simple modifications can be made for the same purpose (see Section 2C). If the<br />
keeper or shift doors/gates to the dens are constructed of fence/lattice they also should be<br />
covered with plywood/wood or other non-transparent materials or the shift doors could be<br />
replaced with a non-transparent shift door. It is highly recommended to install infrared video<br />
cameras with microphones in dens (as well as nestboxes <strong>and</strong> all enclosure areas) to monitor<br />
cub progress etc. without disturbance to the parents during cub-rearing (see Section 10B).<br />
Introduction gates <strong>and</strong> fences (also called "howdy gates" or "howdy fences"), that can<br />
separate indoor <strong>and</strong>/or outdoor enclosure areas, should be used for visual-acousticolfactory<br />
introduction of unfamiliar <strong>and</strong> temporarily separated otters. (See Section 8 for<br />
introduction fence designs.) The larger the area that the introduction can take place, the<br />
better. When dens are the only areas where visual introduction can take place, they should be<br />
as large in size as possible, have fences/lattice <strong>and</strong> animal shift doors that are well located (to<br />
connect dens/tunnels to make the den area larger, etc.), <strong>and</strong> fence/lattice containment barriers<br />
with the recommended mesh size necessary for introductions. The fence/lattice should be used<br />
as a containment barrier for at least one side of the den that connects with a larger enclosure<br />
area or another den. Larger divisible enclosure areas although should be provided in<br />
addition to dens to promote visual introduction success because small areas, such as dens, do<br />
not have enough space to allow for appropriate visual introductions. <strong>Otter</strong>s should be given<br />
at least a reasonable size living area during the introduction period <strong>and</strong> they must have sufficient<br />
area where they can hide or stay out of the other’s view when they feel it necessary. <strong>Otter</strong>s<br />
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