International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

aforementioned institution (Dortmund Zoo) (Osmann & Wisser 2001). It is expected that this
breeding pair at Dortmund will never reproduce successfully.
Of the giant otters that are 2 years old or older, 24 (14.10) are held singly or in single sex
groups. This means that of the population of otters that are 2 years old or older (26.23 or 49
individuals), 49 % are held singly or in single sex groups. The number of institutions that are
holding otters in this category are 19 (or 70.4 %), although it is important to note that some of
these institutions also hold at least one or more potential breeding pairs.
At this time only 4 individuals (4 males) or 8.2 % of the population that are two years old or
older and are not currently paired, could hypothetically not be paired, as there is no mate
available for them. This means that 40.8 % (10.10) of the population of otters who are 2 years
old or older could hypothetically be paired, instead they are held singly or in single sex groups.
(Seventeen (11.6) animals that are two years or older are held singly. This equals 34.7% of the
population over two years old. Six animals (2.4) are held in single sex groups, which equals
12.2 % of the population two years or older.) One additional animal (1.0) is held without a
mature partner, but he is held with two juveniles.
Fifteen (7.8) animals are known to be over ten years old (born 1993 or before), including the
breeding female at Cali. That equals 25.9 % of the total population. Four of these animals are
known to be over 15 years old, including the breeding male at Brasilia. The age of 16 (7.9)
individuals is unknown. (Note : The animals in this category are estimated to be at least over
two years old.)
Currently, 31 (15.16) individuals are wild born, which equals 53.4 % of the total population,
while 27 (15.12) individuals are captive born which equals 46.6 %. Seven individuals (2.5 or
12.1 % of the total population), held at Brasilia Zoo, are the first known captive born cubs that
have ever been successfully reared to one year of age or older by parents which both have been
captive born. Eleven (7.4) animals that were captive born are already over ten years old. That
equals 19 % of the total captive population. Nine captive born animals (4.5) are around one
year old, which equals 15.5% of the total captive population.
As of September 30, 2003 (i.e. currently), approximately 47 giant otters are known to be held in
22 South American institutions. More captive giant otters are held in Brazil than in any other
country. Successful breeding pairs live at the Brasilia Zoo and at Criatorio Crocodilo Safari, a
private facility close to the city of Belem. Two institutions keep single females and have so far
not been able to acquire mates and one zoo keeps a single male. Many captive giant otters in
Brazil are related as they are descendants of Brasilia, Cuiaba, or both bloodlines (Brasilia Zoo
staff, pers. comm. 2002). Pairs that have not bred so far are held at INPA/Manaus, Curitiba
Zoo, and Brasilia (Brasilia Zoo keeps two pairs in different exhibits). In Bolivia, only one male
is known to be held at the Santa Cruz Zoo (Sigsgard & Swannie, pers. comm. 2002). In Peru,
the zoos of Pucallpa and Quistococha currently keep giant otters. All 1.2 animals at the
Quistococha Zoo are held singly and one female is already eleven years old (Taggart, pers.
comm.; Groenendijk, pers. comm.). The Pucallpa Zoo held two females in 2000 (Galvez, pers.
comm.). In Colombia, only Barranquilla Zoo and Cali Zoo currently keep giant otters. Cali
also has the only successful breeding pair outside Brazil, although it has to be noted that the
female is already eleven years old. The exchange or transfer of offspring has not been possible
so far (Corredor, pers. comm. 2003). In Guyana, the Guyana Zoo in Georgetown keeps one
young female singly (Duplaix, pers. comm. 2001). Diane McTurk at the Karanambo Ranch
frequently receives and handrears orphaned wild giant otters, although after rehabilitation they
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