International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

center. It is essential that there is some ventilation provided in the lower third of the sides
for the removal of waste gases.
The total ventilated area must be at least 20% of the total area of the surface of all four
sides. More ventilation and the use of larger meshed openings is permitted but the animal
must not be able to protrude its nose or paws to the outside from any opening.
If the mesh is fixed to the interior of the container all sharp edges must be protected.
Spacer bars/Handles must be made to a depth of 2.5 cm (1 in.), must be present
on the sides of the container as shown in the illustration. [See IATA Live
Animals Regulations.]
Food and water containers must be provided with a means of access from the outside.
Forklift spacers must be provided if the total weight of the container plus the animal
exceeds 60 kg (132 lbs.) (IATA Live Animals Regulations 26 th Edition, p296)
[Hard plastic pet containers should not be used for giant otters.] Reed-Smith
(2001) states: “When shipping an animal, especially across international
borders, check to see what types of requirements/restrictions may be in place.
For example, some countries will not accept crates in which straw has been used
as a bedding material. All animals should be shipped one to a crate. Lactating
mothers should not be shipped.”
A transport box with the following inside measurements has been successfully used to transport
an otter from Brazil to Germany. It was constructed as recommended above and its length was
140 cm (55.2”), width 60 cm (23.6”), and height 57 cm (22.5”).
Substrates such as straw, leaves, or mulch etc. should be used to line the transport crate. This is
necessary to absorb feces and urine and to help keep the otter clean and dry. If natural
materials, such as those mentioned above, can not be used, then other materials that can be
safely used, such as strips of cardboard if the otter has had regular exposure to cardboard and
has never ingested it, etc. might be able to be substituted for the same purpose. Also a transport
crate with a floor (i.e. where the otter will stand on) that was constructed with many long slats
of wood running horizontally and fixed over top of the drop tray, worked very well to keep a
giant otter clean and dry on its journey from South America to Europe. The slats were spaced
closely enough together that the otters’ feet could not get caught in or go between the slats. In
this case no substrates were used to line the transport crate.
Note from the author/compiler: Giant otters do not seem to be able to bite on wood structures
that have no exposed edges or corners and there are no known reports that otters have done
such. It has not been proven necessary to line the inside of wooden transport crates with
fence/lattice when transporting giant otters and this is not advisable. E.g. giant otters have been
transported successfuly and without problems from distances as far as South America to Europe
when wooden transport boxes were not lined with fence/lattice. Exposure to fence/lattice on
the inside of crates could likely cause damage to the otters’ delicate sensitive foot pads, webbing
and/or skin.
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