International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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