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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weaning continues, larger pieces of adult diet are added while less formula gruel is provided<br />
until, eventually, an adult diet is reached.” (Burnette 1994). Gradually larger pieces of cut fish<br />
filet or/<strong>and</strong> entire very small (tiny) fish, in addition to some (i.e. a small amount) straight milk<br />
formula in a separate bowl, can be offered. This milk is supplement for the small amount of<br />
mother’s milk that cubs have been reported to nurse as they are weaning during the later stages.<br />
(Of course, free-choice drinking water must always be available). Removing fish bones, scales<br />
<strong>and</strong> skin in the beginning is helpful/necessary, but later <strong>and</strong> progressively small bones/some<br />
skin should be left on the fish <strong>and</strong> additions should be increased from there. Next, small whole<br />
fish <strong>and</strong> eventually larger whole fish should be offered in addition to a little amount of straight<br />
milk formula in a separate bowl. The small amounts of milk replacer offered should be slowly<br />
reduced <strong>and</strong> at some point the otter should also no longer take interest in <strong>and</strong> reject the milk<br />
formula (see above). If the animal is still drinking supplemental milk formula for an<br />
unreasonable amount of time, it can be gently weaned off of the milk. This can be done by<br />
diluting the milk formula with increasing amounts of water (i.e. until only water exists) to help<br />
reduce the otter’s interest in the milk or by simply offering progressively less formula until it is<br />
no longer offered. Some giant otter cubs prefer to eat small pieces of fish or very small fish<br />
when it is offered separately from their milk formula <strong>and</strong> fish is first introduced into their diet,<br />
i.e. they may reject the fish mash when it is prepared <strong>and</strong> first introduced as aforementioned in<br />
the paragraph above (Duplaix relaying information from McTurk, pers. comm.). It is important<br />
that cub preferences are accommodated. The method (i.e. first offering fish mash or small<br />
pieces of fish) that is readily accepted or preferred by the cub should be used provided the cub<br />
remains healthy <strong>and</strong> it thrives when that method is used. Note: milk formula must still be<br />
offered for a gradual change over during weaning <strong>and</strong> not be eliminated or reduced in amount<br />
too soon or problems could result.<br />
The process of weaning cubs can be difficult. Great patience, gentle encouragement, <strong>and</strong><br />
persistence should be used to encourage cubs to eat fish or the new unfamiliar tasting milk<br />
formula fish mash. The same great patience is needed to switch the otter from sucking on the<br />
bottle nipple to eating from a bowl or dish. In the early weaning stages, when formula is not too<br />
thick, the feeding apparatuses that had been used previously (e.g. bottles) can be used to slowly<br />
feed the initial milk formula fish mash. Large plastic syringes might be helpful for a time as<br />
formulas thicken. Although, bowls or dishes must be used eventually as the formula becomes<br />
too thick to go through a small opening.<br />
Bowls can be introduced by putting the otter’s milk formula fish mash in the bowl <strong>and</strong><br />
presenting the bowl to the cub. The bowl can be brought up to the cub’s face. The h<strong>and</strong>rearer<br />
can either put his/her finger, a bottle nipple (or another familiar feeding implement), or even a<br />
small spoon (esp. if the cub is familiar with it) in the bowl <strong>and</strong> dip it into the food. Then the<br />
finger, nipple, or spoon can be placed next to, or if necessary on <strong>and</strong> very gently in the otter’s<br />
mouth, so the cub can taste <strong>and</strong> lick the food. (The cub’s mouth should never be pried open<br />
with feeding implements; instead a h<strong>and</strong>rearer should gently open the cub’s mouth with their<br />
fingers.) This process should be repeated bringing the bowl closer to the otter’s mouth each<br />
time until the cub licks from the bowl rather than the nipple, finger, or spoon. This way a<br />
connection is being made between the formula coming from the familiar nipple or h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> the<br />
formula coming from the bowl. This is a gentle way of doing it, as the otter’s face must never<br />
be forced into the bowl. Sometimes many attempts have to be made with this method, before<br />
the cub responds appropriately. Great patience <strong>and</strong> persistence should be used, before giving<br />
up. Eventually, if the cub does not start to eat from the bowl (i.e. for more difficult transitions),<br />
the bowl should be brought up to the cub’s face <strong>and</strong> it’s muzzle (i.e. not face or nose) should be<br />
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