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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should not be introduced with physical full-contact within a den area alone, as this area is too<br />
small <strong>and</strong> confined for a full-contact introduction to take place. Animal shift doors that are<br />
constructed of solid materials, but that can be replaced/interchanged with a shift door made of<br />
lattice/fence with the recommended mesh size necessary for introductions, can be a helpful<br />
addition during visual introductions, although larger introduction fences are needed as well. For<br />
example, an introduction fence 5 m (16.41 ft) long worked very well to introduce unfamiliar<br />
otters, where as much smaller areas, such as only twice the size of an animal shift door or a little<br />
larger, produced much poorer results during visual introductions. See Section 18 for<br />
information on enclosure design (fence mesh size etc.) <strong>and</strong> husb<strong>and</strong>ry practices needed during<br />
introductions.<br />
It is helpful to have areas available where husb<strong>and</strong>ry training can take place. Sometimes<br />
the only place that this can occur is in the den area. When this is so, at least one den should<br />
have a fence front (i.e. used as a containment barrier for one side of the den), with fence mesh<br />
large enough to permit the passage of human h<strong>and</strong>s, training targets, fish, ultrasound heads etc.<br />
Fence mesh, with 5 cm x 20 cm (2" x 8") fence mesh size works well for husb<strong>and</strong>ry<br />
training, although caution must be taken as otters can climb this fence. (To avoid various<br />
health problems, den <strong>and</strong> all enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floors must be covered with soft loose natural<br />
substrates. In the rare case that an otter may fall, such substrates will soften the surface.) The<br />
largest den/s available should be used for training. When only very small dens are available it is<br />
difficult to train two animals together or even one in this small space. It could be possible that<br />
when two trainers are available at the same time, each otter in a pair could be trained in two<br />
individual dens that are separated so that they do not distract each other during training. (It is<br />
although challenging to encourage otters to feel comfortable with such a separation period.)<br />
When possible larger enclosure areas should be used for husb<strong>and</strong>ry training as well. See<br />
Chapter 3 for training information <strong>and</strong> Chapter 1 for why husb<strong>and</strong>ry training is important.<br />
Additional den furnishings, other than a nestbox with bedding substrates <strong>and</strong> the<br />
necessary soft loose natural substrates covering the den floor (see Section 2), can include<br />
the following. A deep leaf pile, woodwool (remove woodwool during cub-rearing), a log for<br />
lying on, a box/tub of s<strong>and</strong> for substrate variety if only mulch is offered within the den, <strong>and</strong> cut<br />
tall bamboo (with the stalk size recommended) placed in fence mesh, the floor substrates, or in a<br />
hollow log so they overhang the otters can be included (see Section 4). These additional den<br />
furnishings will be helpful to add enrichment esp. during cub-rearing, when otters will stay<br />
close to their nestboxes/dens when the cubs are very young <strong>and</strong> when unfamiliar or temporarily<br />
separated otters are introduced to each other.<br />
Dens are an ideal location to offer toys for additional enrichment when toys have to be<br />
kept away from the water or they cannot be presented on-exhibit in the visitor viewing area.<br />
See Section 15 below for a list of toys that can be offered. For example the following toys have<br />
been offered within dens. Items included cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes <strong>and</strong> PVC pipe tubes<br />
(30 cm to 31 cm [12" to 12.2"] in diameter) for lying <strong>and</strong> playing in, <strong>and</strong> a large plastic bread<br />
tray (turned upside down for lying on) with/without astroturf carpet secured on the top of the<br />
bread tray. Also woodwool <strong>and</strong> long strips of paper roll towels with light items, such as small<br />
cardboard boxes etc. hanging from the paper towels have been offered. These items are<br />
reported to be very well liked by the otters. For safety, woodwool, plastic bread trays <strong>and</strong> other<br />
items with holes that could entrap cubs <strong>and</strong> any item that could be dangerous to cubs (e.g. those<br />
that could roll on them etc.) should be removed before cubs are born <strong>and</strong> they should not be<br />
offered during cub-rearing. Toys for behavioral enrichment should only be used as addition<br />
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