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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Section 12<br />
Weaning & Feeding Techniques for Weaning<br />
The gradual change-over from feeding milk replacers to feeding a total fish diet is called<br />
“weaning”. More research needs to be conducted to determine the most optimal age to start a<br />
slow gradual weaning process. The information available indicates that a giant otter cub<br />
should be around at least 2 ½ to 4 months old when fish is first introduced into its diet <strong>and</strong><br />
the weaning process is begun. The age at which each cub will first accept fish will vary<br />
from individual to individual, although it seems that milk formula should be given to fulfill<br />
100% of the giant otter cub’s nutritional needs until it reaches around at least 2 ½ months<br />
of age. Not fulfilling 100% of the cub’s nutritional needs with a milk formula before this age<br />
may cause health problems. As well, waiting too long to begin the weaning process may also<br />
cause problems. When the weaning process was started with cubs that were around<br />
approximately 2 ½ <strong>and</strong> 3 or 4 months old, those cubs were successfully reared (See Section 5).<br />
Many wild-born orphaned cubs reared at the institutions that used this method have been<br />
successfully reared (Lazzarini 1998 pers. comm.; McTurk/Duplaix pers. comm. 2004). Note:<br />
the ages of the wild-born animals were estimated. At Hagenbecks Tierpark (Germany) giant<br />
otter cubs, at approximately 8 weeks old, mouthed <strong>and</strong> played with fish that the mother brought<br />
to them; although they only first started swallowing solid fish at 70 days of age (10 weeks old)<br />
(Hagenbeck <strong>and</strong> Wünnemann 1992). Later reports explain that two cubs, that were captive-born<br />
<strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>reared at Hagenbecks, ingested solid food at 3 months old, although it was found that<br />
they could not digest the fish properly when they were this age. “The feces contained a lot of<br />
undigested fat <strong>and</strong> protein <strong>and</strong> the enzyme level of chymotrypsin was much lower than in adult<br />
animals” (Wünnemann 1995 b ). Wünnemann 1995 further reports, “At 70 days, the [giant otter]<br />
cubs will start to swallow solid food, although they start playing with it a long time before this<br />
time. However, they are dependent on their mother for at least four months [i.e. the first 4<br />
months of the cubs’ life] <strong>and</strong> will continue suckling up to the age of seven months”. The cubs<br />
continued nursing mother’s milk when they were around 6 1/2 months old, although only<br />
insignificant amounts were obtained <strong>and</strong> it provided little nutritional value. The weaning<br />
process can occur over a varying time period until the cubs choose to reject the milk formula<br />
(Duplaix/McTurk & Wünnemann pers. comms. 2004). Cubs may choose to reject milk formula<br />
from one, a couple, a few, or even several months after accepting fish within their diet for the<br />
first time (pers. comms. of the h<strong>and</strong>rearers listed within this manual). Sometimes they may also<br />
reject milk formula from 2 to 3 weeks after they start to eat fish within their diet. Caution must<br />
be taken although, as the offering of milk formula should not be eliminated or reduced in<br />
amount too soon or problems may result.<br />
Reports indicate that giant otters do not require milk to meet their basic nutritional needs when<br />
they are at the age of around 6 ½ months <strong>and</strong> older (note: this does not mean that their needs can<br />
not be met at an earlier age; see the paragraph above). At one institution, some h<strong>and</strong>reared<br />
otters although have been reported to drink some supplemental milk formula (i.e. in addition to<br />
their fish diet), even up to 10 months of age <strong>and</strong> they were reported to be successfully reared<br />
(Duplaix/McTurk, pers. comm. 2004). H<strong>and</strong>rearers should although take care that otters wean<br />
themselves fully of all milk formula within a reasonable time period. It seems that by at least 6<br />
½ months of age, <strong>and</strong> up to an age that does not exceed approx. 10 months [based on the<br />
outcome of the h<strong>and</strong>reared otters just mentioned above], the cub should be eating a total fish<br />
diet <strong>and</strong> should no longer be drinking any milk formula (Duplaix/McTurk & Wünnemann pers.<br />
comms. 2004). (Scientific research on the meeting of nutritional needs of h<strong>and</strong>reared giant<br />
otters at various ages should be conducted to establish scientific guidelines for the weaning<br />
process.)<br />
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