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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een exposed to within its environment, the longer it may take for the otter to show<br />
interest in the object or change <strong>and</strong> become comfortable with it. An otters’ environment<br />
should not remain stagnant or fear of change, boredom, <strong>and</strong> other abnormal stress causing<br />
behaviors can result. If its environment is stagnant, changes should be introduced slowly<br />
unless they include making changes to provide the recommended enclosure furnishings or<br />
designs. Note: the recommended enclosure furnishings <strong>and</strong> designs are the most<br />
important conditions that must be provided to avoid that abnormal behavioral <strong>and</strong> mental<br />
health problems develop <strong>and</strong> to resolve health problems that may already exist. Making<br />
changes to offer these conditions should be done as quickly as possible, i.e. these changes<br />
should not be made slowly. New/unusual changes should not be made at parturition <strong>and</strong><br />
during cub-rearing <strong>and</strong> all necessary changes should be made before this time.<br />
Most of the following items are inexpensive, easy to find, present, <strong>and</strong> maintain <strong>and</strong> are<br />
especially liked by the otters. The institutions surveyed reported that these items were well used<br />
<strong>and</strong> liked by their giant otters. The condition <strong>and</strong> size of all toys, esp. tubes, tires etc., should be<br />
checked to prevent possible body entrapment <strong>and</strong>/or entanglement. For example, an approx. 3<br />
month old cub suffocated in a plastic cup (Flügger 1997). Entrapment or entanglement could<br />
cause severe <strong>and</strong> potentially dangerous stress. This situation is also esp. dangerous in <strong>and</strong> near<br />
pools or if more than one otter tried to enter the tube/tire etc. at the same time in the water. As<br />
well, the condition of the items should be checked so that ingestion of toy <strong>and</strong> toy parts is not<br />
possible. Using a rope, or other similar items to tie objects up with or to simply play with in<br />
itself, should be avoided to prevent strangulation <strong>and</strong> entanglement. For safety, woodwool,<br />
plastic bread trays <strong>and</strong> other items with holes that could entrap cubs <strong>and</strong> any item that could be<br />
dangerous to cubs, e.g. those that could roll on them etc., should be removed before cubs are<br />
born <strong>and</strong> they should not be offered during cub-rearing.<br />
<strong>Giant</strong> otters enjoy tossing around large items (as well as medium <strong>and</strong> small sized items), such as<br />
those that are approx. two-thirds of their body size. These toys should not only be light in<br />
weight because this is what otters like, but also because this is what can be safely used both in<br />
pools <strong>and</strong> on l<strong>and</strong>. Pteronura are very strong <strong>and</strong> can lift up very heavy objects that are<br />
overtop of them, with the back of their neck, shoulders, <strong>and</strong> back (Sykes-Gatz pers. obs.). For<br />
example, during a husb<strong>and</strong>ry training session an adult male giant otter lifted, with the back of<br />
his shoulders, one end of a large <strong>and</strong> very heavy beam scale which he forced his head, neck,<br />
shoulders, <strong>and</strong> part of his back under. The beam scale was made of two long heavy metal<br />
beams (used for weighing very large animals) that were connected by a sizable wooden<br />
platform that was located low to the ground.<br />
Playing with cardboard boxes, esp. those large enough to lay on, is a special favorite.<br />
Sturdy cardboard boxes (e.g. boxes used for vegetables/fruits), approx. 60 cm (24”) long,<br />
40 cm (16”) wide <strong>and</strong> 15 cm (6”) high, are especially liked. <strong>Otter</strong>s will normally toss around,<br />
tear/rip apart into many pieces, dig into, <strong>and</strong> rest on these cardboard boxes. (New boxes often<br />
need to be offered daily to replace destroyed/wet boxes.) Various sizes can be offered. In many<br />
countries, cardboard boxes are available for free at grocery stores etc. or zoos themselves will<br />
often have boxes available from deliveries. Boxes can be offered in dens or places far away<br />
from swim areas to avoid that they are taken into the water. <strong>Giant</strong> otters also especially like<br />
thick-sided large cardboard tubes (used for carpets or concrete construction forms, 30 cm in<br />
diameter x 122 cm+ long [1 ft in diameter x 4 ft long]) to play <strong>and</strong> sleep/rest in. (Large PVC<br />
pipes can be used too, although they are not as favored as cardboard tubes.) (Keep tubes away<br />
from the water to prevent underwater entrapment.) <strong>Otter</strong>s never before exposed to cardboard<br />
boxes or other new toys may take a few weeks of exposure to the item/s before they use it.<br />
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