International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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