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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When nestboxes are dimly lit, cubs have fallen asleep on the mother’s teat (which was often), or<br />
when parents or other siblings are covering the nursing cubs (so they cannot be seen) the<br />
aforementioned behaviors are important to help determine when cubs are actually nursing.<br />
(Note: parents with cubs must be isolated from all human disturbances during cub-rearing.)<br />
When the giant otter cubs were crying more often than usual, this indicated that they were<br />
hungry, feeling neglected, being abused, or feeling sick. Developing cubs (at Dortmund Zoo),<br />
that were observed until they were at least 2 ½ months old, were also observed to nurse very<br />
frequently throughout the day <strong>and</strong>/or hour depending on age. The behavior of these cubs was<br />
monitored when the cubs/parents were visible in their enclosure <strong>and</strong> it was also monitored by<br />
the vocalizations of the cubs <strong>and</strong> parents when they were in their nestboxes. All was monitored<br />
from hidden/isolated viewing areas so that the parents did not detect the observer <strong>and</strong> they were<br />
not disturbed (Sykes-Gatz unpublished report 1999-2002 <strong>and</strong> pers. obs.).<br />
Immediately after the 7 day old giant otter cub at Dortmund Zoo was removed from its parents<br />
for h<strong>and</strong>rearing, it eliminated softly formed dark green stools (Sykes-Gatz, pers. obs.<br />
unpublished reports 1999-2002). This stool resulted from mother’s milk, although it is<br />
important to note that this cub died of an inherited thyroid malfunction at 11 days old, which<br />
may have affected its stool color. The cub although did not appear underweight at the time it<br />
was pulled, but it was significantly injured from a bite wound that one of the parents inflicted.<br />
At Hagenbeck Tierpark, “The female has four mammae. In the first days of life the cubs tend to<br />
fall asleep when suckling, keeping the teat in their mouth for hours.” (Wünnemann 1995 b )<br />
(Nursing frequency <strong>and</strong> length should be monitored <strong>and</strong> thoroughly documented for cubs during<br />
their entire development, but only when the observer does not disturb parents. This is necessary<br />
for comparisons to other cubs, both in the wild <strong>and</strong> in captivity, <strong>and</strong> for h<strong>and</strong>rearers to help<br />
provide feeding schedules more closely related to the cubs natural nursing behavior.)<br />
Eyes First Open:<br />
The cubs’ eyes opened at 30 days old at Sao Paulo Zoo (Autuori & Deutsch 1977).<br />
At Hagenbeck Tierpark the cubs’ eyes opened at 6 weeks old (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann<br />
1992).<br />
At Dortmund Zoo the cubs’ eyes first opened at 30 days old (Gatz & Sykes-Gatz pers. obs.).<br />
Leaving/Entering the Nestbox:<br />
“<strong>Giant</strong> otters will use a number of nest boxes <strong>and</strong> like to change several times while rearing<br />
their offspring.” (Wünnemann 1995). When the female reared her cubs alone, Hagenbeck<br />
reports “The female changed nestboxes with her litter several times, carrying the young in her<br />
mouth.” (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992). Hagenbeck Tierpark reports, “At 67 days of age<br />
they left the nestbox <strong>and</strong> were seen entering the water for the first time.” (Hagenbeck &<br />
Wünnemann 1992).<br />
At Sao Paulo Zoo, “The female [mother] leaves the shelter several times a day – 3 to 5—<strong>and</strong><br />
gets into the water to catch fish <strong>and</strong> eat them…” [After eating, she also spent time chasing <strong>and</strong><br />
killing fish that she did not eat].…..[At 63 days old] for the first time, the small ariranha was<br />
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