International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

parturition, or individuals are not under stress or unusual circumstances, the predictability of
the environment should also be reduced. The location of some enclosure furnishings can be
changed daily to stimulate new interest, reduce predictability, and create new walking or
swimming patterns. I.e. light logs, rocks, branches etc. can be moved to new locations within
the pool and on land. Exhibits can be refurnished or pre-existing furniture can be relocated on a
larger scale once or twice a year. Methods that significantly change the otter’s environment or
cause disturbances (i.e. changing furniture location, etc.) when parents are rearing cubs, close
to parturition, or otters are under stress or unusual circumstances, must not be used. Toys can
be presented in different manners to offer variety. They can be stacked on or within each other,
hung, hid, scattered, placed in the pool or on land etc.. Giant otters enjoy pulling down
overhanging items. E.g. cut bamboo branches (see Section 4 for the necessary bamboo type and
stalk diameter size that otters need, to use the bamboo successfully) and toys hung on long paper
towels are used very frequently. Fish can be hand fed, thrown onto the enclosure land area or
into the pool for the otters to chase and it can be fed whole or in small pieces or fed live.
Offering live fish is particularly enriching for giant otters (see Section 19 below for more
information on fish types, quality, etc.).
Husbandry training, via operant conditioning, is also a stimulating and positively
challenging form of behavioral enrichment and it is highly recommended for many
reasons. See Chapter 3.
Section 16
Water Source and Treatment
It is necessary to offer clean swim and drinking water (free of spoiled fish and harmful bacteria
etc.). Note: giant otters only defecate and urinate on land and not in the water. Tap or
natural/spring water (flow-through included), with/without filtration and re-circulation, is used
for giant otter swim water. Only one zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, is known to add chemicals
(chlorine) to giant otter pool water. Complete pool water changes with pool cleaning are
usually done at most zoos holding giant otters. (Many zoos do not filtrate their water.) This
type of pool maintenance is usually performed one time per week or less frequently. When sand
filtration is used, pool water changes and cleaning are reported to usually be carried out around
once every 3 months. Although it is important to note that with sand filtration and when it
becomes very sunny with very warm/hot temperatures for long extended periods, it was reported
that it was necessary to carry out pool water changes and cleaning more often. Natural ponds
with flow through water are also provided for giant otters. Specific information on chemical
additives is available by request. Please contact the author and compiler of this manual for more
information.
Pool drains, filters, skimmers, water filtration/cleaning systems, waterfalls, underwater
viewing areas, swim tanks/tubs, and all water areas must be able to accommodate the soft
loose natural substrates that may be tracked, pushed, dug etc. into the water from land
and floor areas. The simple designs and furnishings described in Section 2C above can
help prevent substrates from entering water areas and blocking drains or causing other
problems. Although, even with these methods, some substrates will enter the water. Because
it is necessary that every indoor and outdoor enclosure land and floor surface is nearly entirely
covered with soft loose natural substrates as recommended, enclosure water areas etc. should
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