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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McTurk, where commercial br<strong>and</strong> milk replacer formulas for animals were used on cubs.<br />
Dortmund Zoo (Germany) reported using Esbilac TM , Zoologic Milk Matrix 30:55 TM , or KMR TM<br />
(Kitten Milk Replacer) on captive born giant otter cubs of various ages. Esbilac or KMR was<br />
used on six cubs less than 2 weeks old <strong>and</strong> Milk Matrix 30:55 was used on 2 cubs that were 2<br />
1/2 <strong>and</strong> 3 months old. No cub survived longer than 2 weeks during h<strong>and</strong>rearing. Inherited<br />
thyroid malfunctions due to severe inbreeding were likely to have prevented the survival of all<br />
(13 litters/28 cubs) of the parent-reared <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>reared cubs born at this zoo (Osmann & Wisser<br />
2001). This was proven by necropsies (that revealed non-functioning or malfunctioning thyroid<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>s) <strong>and</strong> similar cub symptoms seen in all of the observed cubs during h<strong>and</strong>-rearing <strong>and</strong><br />
parent-rearing. I.e. the cubs became severely underweight <strong>and</strong> physically underdeveloped at<br />
some point in time during parent-rearing or/<strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>rearing. These cubs, at various ages,<br />
became unable to process mother’s <strong>and</strong>/or replacer milk <strong>and</strong> they starved to death. It is<br />
expected that this breeding pair at Dortmund will never reproduce successfully. In the case at<br />
Dortmund, the formulas used can not be considered fairly tried or tested (therefore this data was<br />
not used to draw references from). In addition, there was a report that at Hagenbeck Tierpark<br />
(Germany) “an attempt at h<strong>and</strong>-rearing <strong>and</strong> one of fostering to a domestic bitch also failed”<br />
(these captive born cubs were less than 2 weeks old <strong>and</strong> this occurred before 1990) (Hagenbeck<br />
<strong>and</strong> Wünnemann 1992). Concerning these Hagenbeck Tierpark cubs, no other information is<br />
available.<br />
Information is still being sought to determine if other commercial br<strong>and</strong> formulas for animals<br />
have been used successfully <strong>and</strong> to find the ages of the cubs these formulas were used on.<br />
Esbilac TM is highly recommended <strong>and</strong> commonly used to successfully h<strong>and</strong>rear river otter<br />
species <strong>and</strong> otter cubs of all ages. It is a commercially prepared milk replacer formula<br />
developed for carnivore species <strong>and</strong> it is used by zoos, vet hospitals, wildlife rehabilitators etc..<br />
When mixed as instructed on the package, it is successfully used to raise river otters (Cain-Stage<br />
1992/93; Pet-Ag, representative, D. Hoffmann, pers. comm. 2000; Reed-Smith 1994-95).<br />
Esbilac, produced by Pet-Ag, Inc. (headquarters located at 261 Keyes Ave. Hampshire, Illinois,<br />
60140, U.S.-Customer Service Department Phone #: 1-800-323-6878; mail@petag.com), is<br />
available worldwide. It can be purchased (in powdered or liquid form) at some vet hospitals or<br />
pet stores or can be ordered by telephone for international shipping. (See Section 7 for how to<br />
switch cubs from mother’s milk or one milk replacer formula to another.)<br />
Other commercially prepared milk replacer formulas for carnivores have been used alone <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
were mixed with Esbilac to successfully rear river otter species (most reports concern use for the<br />
species Lutra/Lontra canadensis). Pet-Ag, Inc. also recommends Zoologic Milk Matrix 30:55 TM<br />
for rearing river otter cub species (including giant otters). This formula, also produced by Pet-<br />
Ag, Inc., was developed for specific carnivore species, including river otters. Pet-Ag Inc. states<br />
its nutrient contents are even more closely similar to Lutra/Lontra canadensis than Esbilac’s<br />
(i.e. its fat content is higher etc.). It also reports it has been used to rear river otters with<br />
success, although there was at least one report, where Lutra/Lontra canadensis otter cubs did<br />
not thrive on it, so they were switched to <strong>and</strong> successfully reared on Esbilac (Reed-Smith 1994-<br />
95). Powdered Zoologic Milk Matrix 30:55, when mixed at the recommended dilutions (1:1 or<br />
1:2), has been found very difficult to mix (powder lumps are also difficult to remove) or/<strong>and</strong><br />
feed through a bottle (it is very thick) (Pet-Ag representative, D. Hoffmann, pers. comm. 2000;<br />
Dortmund Zoo, pers. comm. 2000). Lactol TM (British counterpart to Esbilac) (Johnstone 1978),<br />
KMR TM (Kitten Milk Replacer) alone, or Multi-milk TM with Esbilac or KMR (Cain-Stage<br />
1992/93 citing Evans 1986) have also been used. In some countries/locations these milk<br />
replacer br<strong>and</strong>s may be difficult to attain or are unavailable. In these cases other commercially<br />
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