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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are to the water, but it is also dependent on all of the enclosure conditions.) E.g. when the otters<br />
leave the water to enter their sleeping areas, water will be easily tracked <strong>and</strong> carried into the<br />
nestboxes <strong>and</strong> underground dens, as well as onto the l<strong>and</strong> that lies between these resting places<br />
<strong>and</strong> the water. (Because giant otters take naps throughout the day, numerous trips of this nature<br />
can be made during the day, although they also rest on other l<strong>and</strong> areas as well.) <strong>Otter</strong>s will also<br />
quickly dampen/wet these areas when they use them to dry off <strong>and</strong> groom on because sufficient<br />
l<strong>and</strong> area <strong>and</strong>/or adequate substrates are not conveniently available for them to use for these<br />
activities before they enter their sleeping areas. Without sufficient l<strong>and</strong> area <strong>and</strong>/or adequate<br />
substrates, the aforementioned areas will likely remain very damp or wet. Note: young cubs will<br />
primarily stay/be kept by their parents in <strong>and</strong> near their nestboxes, dens, <strong>and</strong> natural underground<br />
dens <strong>and</strong> on the l<strong>and</strong> near the water’s edge. In the above inappropriate conditions, otters will be<br />
exposed to damp/wet conditions for long/extended periods <strong>and</strong> poor health, serious health<br />
problems, or even death can result. E.g. cub death by infection has occurred during cub-rearing<br />
because of these conditions. Parents, with no other choice, will be subject to keeping their cubs<br />
as well as themselves in such conditions. Also when insufficient l<strong>and</strong> area exists, parents may be<br />
encouraged to put their cubs into the water more frequently than they should.<br />
Appropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios (i.e. sufficient l<strong>and</strong> area) <strong>and</strong> enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floors nearly<br />
entirely covered with soft s<strong>and</strong>, mulch, or/<strong>and</strong> soft loose soil (i.e. with the substrate types,<br />
depths, <strong>and</strong> quality as recommended) are the most important husb<strong>and</strong>ry provisions needed to<br />
offer optimal grooming area <strong>and</strong> keep the l<strong>and</strong>, floors, nestboxes <strong>and</strong> otters on l<strong>and</strong> dry <strong>and</strong><br />
clean. In such conditions the otter’s fur coat, body, <strong>and</strong> feet will remain in a healthy condition<br />
<strong>and</strong> otters can carry out the full extent of their innate grooming behaviors. The other<br />
recommended l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area locations <strong>and</strong> designs <strong>and</strong> locations for nestboxes, dens, <strong>and</strong><br />
areas for natural underground dens should be provided for similar reasons. It is also especially<br />
important that the areas where young cubs primarily stay/are kept, remain as dry as possible.<br />
Additional furnishings (large diameter logs with bark, hollow logs large enough for entrance,<br />
nestboxes with bedding substrates etc.) that provide dry areas in enclosures should also be<br />
offered. This is esp. important when indoor enclosures are not available. Natural underground<br />
dens that otters dig into hillsides / banks (constructed as recommended) also provide additional<br />
dry areas.<br />
Mental <strong>and</strong> behavioral health problems:<br />
Conditions that negatively affect the ability to successfully rear cubs, adjust to new/unusual<br />
situations, <strong>and</strong> maintain mental <strong>and</strong> behavioral health.<br />
<strong>Giant</strong> otters with healthy behavior <strong>and</strong> the recommended enclosure conditions, dig deep into <strong>and</strong><br />
groom, dry, rub, roll, dig, <strong>and</strong> scratch on/into soft loose natural substrates throughout the entire<br />
expanse of their l<strong>and</strong> area. As instinctively avid diggers <strong>and</strong> groomers, these are among their<br />
most favored <strong>and</strong> frequently performed l<strong>and</strong> activities; i.e. they perform these with a high degree<br />
of frequency <strong>and</strong> intensity, <strong>and</strong> long (relatively speaking) duration throughout the day. They do<br />
not just limit the location of these activities to a specific enclosure area, e.g. to just limited<br />
digging <strong>and</strong> grooming areas that may be provided, they instead use the entire enclosure l<strong>and</strong> area<br />
to perform these behaviors. (Obviously, if the entire l<strong>and</strong> area does not have the appropriate<br />
conditions, these behaviors cannot be carried out as described. See below.) <strong>Giant</strong> otters groom<br />
<strong>and</strong>/or dry themselves by rubbing, rolling, scratching, <strong>and</strong> digging on the surface of/into soft<br />
loose natural substrates. During these activities substrate particles are moved/dug freely about<br />
<strong>and</strong> otters’ often cover their body/fur with the freed particles. They groom themselves when they<br />
are dry as well as wet <strong>and</strong> also rub on substrates to help mark their territory. Pteronura also dig<br />
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