International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

very gently dipped in the bowl into the food. The formula must never be allowed to enter the
cub’s nose (i.e. to prevent inhalation). See Section 9 for more feeding techniques and cautions.
Section 13
Housing Cubs
When housing is chosen for an otter the age, size, health, and physical and behavioral/mental
developmental level / abilities as well as the physical, psychological, and social needs of the
animal must be considered. Cub housing must be completely safe, escape proof, and isolated
from all other animals except for of healthy siblings and healthy giant otter cubs near the same
age. (See introduction of unfamiliar cubs in Chapter 2.) These animals must be kept out of the
draft, wind, cold, excessive heat, damp, wet, and soiled conditions and they must also be
maintained at proper ambient temperatures. Supplemental heating sources, either within or next
to the housing, are needed for some cubs depending on their age, health etc. (see Section 14
below). The cub’s housing container must also provide privacy and materials to keep the
animal dry, clean, and comfortable (mental as well as physical comfort must be considered).
Cubs, their housing and its contents, and all other items used for cub care, must be kept clean
and in areas isolated from sick or diseased animals or contaminated items (i.e. dirty cleaning
tools, feeding apparatuses, bedding etc.). “Exotic animals appear to be more susceptible to
stress-related problems than their domestic counterparts.” (Read & Meier 1996). Acoustical and
visual disturbances and stressful intrusions (i.e. unfamiliar people, excessive human presence or
activities etc.) must be limited to a minimum around cubs and their housing area. When cubs
can be held in small rooms/enclosures these areas must also provide the recommended enclosure
land and floor substrates, deep digging areas, other natural furnishings, and land to water area
ratios with at least the minimum size land area ratio percentage required and the
wading/swimming areas designed with safety and swimming abilities in mind. Nestboxes,
plentiful enrichment, bowls for drinking water and sometimes food bowls, as well as a sufficient
size enclosure is also needed. (See below for the housing furnishings and designs necessary for
both very young and older cubs.)
Pets, stray pets, farm, feral, wild (e.g. rodents, raccoons, foxes, etc.), and zoo animals can
transmit diseases and parasites to cubs. Otters are susceptible to contracting distemper,
parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies, parasites etc.. Where these problems exist and are especially
prevalent (e.g. in South America), for complete safety younger cubs could be reared indoors and
be isolated from all animals (except for as stated in the paragraph above) and infectious
contaminants (see above). Younger, less strong, or less healthy cubs may be especially
vulnerable to diseases, parasites, etc. If vaccinations for disease protection are administered,
cubs could be housed inside until at least the full series of vaccination injections are completed.
If some vaccinations are not an option (i.e. are unavailable or considered too risky) and otters
are reared in an area where they could be at risk to contract diseases, keeping cubs indoors until
they are older could help to provide some extra safety. See Chapter 1 for information on
diseases and vaccinations.
Cubs must not be able to climb or fall out of, escape from, or get injured, caught, or trapped in
their housing or within the contents of their housing (i.e. bedding, towels, blankets etc.).
Young, sick, and weak cubs should be kept in incubators or if they are unavailable, in secure
boxes/containers (e.g. strong cardboard box, plastic box or tub, glass/plexi-glass aquarium etc.)
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