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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52.5 cm [20.6"]. It is assumed that these cubs were born in the wild. See the giant otter cub<br />
weight growth curve under Graph 2 <strong>and</strong> more information on weights above.<br />
Munn & Munn (1988) reported that wild giant otter parents in Manu National Park carried 2<br />
week old cubs out of the den <strong>and</strong> dropped them in the water at the den entrance. “The cubs…<br />
eyes were still closed, <strong>and</strong> they bobbed helplessly.” “By the age of 6 weeks the cubs regularly<br />
followed their parents out of the den.” They played a lot in the shallow water <strong>and</strong> on the ground<br />
outside the den entrance. Parents brought small half killed fish to their approx. 3 month old<br />
cubs <strong>and</strong> the cubs would grab the prey in their mouth <strong>and</strong> front paws. The cubs at that age also<br />
sometimes accompanied the parents on fishing expeditions. Prior to approx. 3 months of age,<br />
the cubs had been nourished almost exclusively on milk. By nine months of age the cubs were<br />
eating only prey <strong>and</strong> were about three-quarters grown.<br />
Carter & Rosas 1997 states “…after 10 months they hunt as successfully as their parents <strong>and</strong><br />
can no longer be distinguished from adults in the wild (Laidler 1984; Brecht-Munn & Munn,<br />
1988). At about 1 year of age otters will mark on their parents campsites (Laidler 1984;<br />
Schweizer 1992) in Carter & Rosas.<br />
Observations of wild giant otters in Peru:<br />
“The age of giving birth for the first time is only known from two females: Triangel <strong>and</strong> Isla.<br />
Triangel was five <strong>and</strong> Isla was three years old. The age of three females was known when they<br />
were observed for the first time with a litter. These animals were not under continuous<br />
observation so it is possible that they had litters before. Pua was four, Hanni <strong>and</strong> Punto were<br />
five when they were observed to have cubs.” (Translation from Staib 2002)<br />
"In Manu National Park, Peru, in 2001 a giant otter family gave birth to two litters spaced<br />
approx. six months apart. One cub of the first litter survived <strong>and</strong> remained with the family<br />
during the successful rearing of the second litter.” (Groenendijk pers. comm. 2003)<br />
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