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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A dummy portable ultrasound was developed at Dortmund Zoo <strong>and</strong> made from a cardboard box<br />
(to represent the monitor), a long thick plastic electric wire, <strong>and</strong> a small plastic container that is<br />
shaped just like the real ultrasound head. The dummy ultrasound head was attached at the end<br />
of the wire (with duct tape) <strong>and</strong> the other end of the wire was attached to the box. This was<br />
used to imitate the real ultrasound machine during ultrasound training sessions.<br />
A wooden frame was designed so that a small floor scale for human use could be placed in the<br />
frame on the floor <strong>and</strong> be secured so that it would not move around when an adult giant otter is<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing on it. (The wooden frame is attached to the containment barrier lattice to secure the<br />
frame <strong>and</strong> it is detachable so it can be stored away.) We found that a conventional scale (i.e.<br />
without an electric readout) is easier to read as the scale stabilizes more easily (with movement)<br />
than an electric read out. (The otter’s tail must be off the floor during weighing.) A metal beam<br />
scale (used to weigh large animals) can also be fitted with a large removable wooden board, so<br />
that the otter can st<strong>and</strong> with all four feet/lay his/her entire body, including the tail, on the<br />
wooden board. (The wooden board can be temporarily bolted onto the two metal beams to<br />
provide safety to the otter, prevent the otter from pushing/lifting the board off the beams, <strong>and</strong> so<br />
the scale can be assembled <strong>and</strong> disassembled with ease during transport <strong>and</strong> storage. The<br />
electric wires can be covered with PVC pipes <strong>and</strong> duct tape for safety <strong>and</strong> run under/through<br />
containment barrier fences.) This way the weight of the otter’s tail, which is quite significant,<br />
can be easily included to determine the otter’s entire body weight. This method for weighing<br />
adult giant otters was first designed <strong>and</strong> used at Philadelphia Zoo (Sykes 1997-99) <strong>and</strong><br />
Philadelphia continues to use this procedure.<br />
A kennel crate (plastic porta-crate for a large dog) is used at Dortmund Zoo for crate training<br />
<strong>and</strong> temporary transports within the zoo itself (i.e. this type of crate is not safe for other<br />
transport uses). For safety, the crate itself is secured, with wires, to the training/den/sleep area<br />
containment fence barrier when it is not in active transport. As well, the crate’s (metal) shift<br />
gate/door that swings open is secured to the containment barrier fence/lattice, with a wire, in the<br />
open position. (These precautions are especially important to prevent entrapment in the water<br />
etc. <strong>Otter</strong>s may also destroy this light weight crate.) The crate’s shift gate is only unfastened<br />
from the barrier lattice during training/actual use. The trainer’s h<strong>and</strong> can fit through the 5 cm x<br />
20 cm (2" x 8") lattice barrier to control the movements of the shift door <strong>and</strong> to latch the shift<br />
door shut. (As well a long pole can be passed through the containment barrier lattice to control<br />
<strong>and</strong> temporarily secure the door, if the trainer is unable to pass his/her h<strong>and</strong> through the lattice.)<br />
The trainer can then detach the wires securing the crate to the den lattice, enter the den, then<br />
move/transport the crate. At Dortmund, a large metal lattice crate is used for moves no more<br />
than an hour or so long <strong>and</strong> a large wooden nestbox type crate (with appropriate air ventilation<br />
etc.) is used for long transports (for international transport). (Securable nestboxes <strong>and</strong> tunnel<br />
sections can also be easily used for quick in-zoo transports.)<br />
A very large plastic dog kennel crate was also specially fitted/designed <strong>and</strong> used for crate<br />
training at Philadelphia Zoo (Sykes 1997-99). The metal crate door (that swung) was replaced<br />
by a metal guillotine sliding shift door that could be controlled by a shift cable <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>le. The<br />
crate was placed in an indoor den, a detachable shift cable was attached to the guillotine door,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the cable led from the crate to the den ceiling, <strong>and</strong> through the den, to the opposite side of<br />
the den fence containment barrier, <strong>and</strong> out to the keeper hallway (via pulleys). The trainer<br />
controlled the shift door via the cable h<strong>and</strong>le from the hallway. The guillotine door must close<br />
tightly (i.e. with no gap between the door <strong>and</strong> crate), so that otters can not lift the door up.<br />
After the otters enter the crate <strong>and</strong> the guillotine door is closed, the trainer can go inside the den<br />
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