International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

conditions/problems can be identified and monitored. Ultrasound for these purposes should
only be conducted via the aforementioned method and not through anesthesia which is a
dangerous procedure. Because only one institution has conducted ultrasounds for these
purposes, no comparisons could be made with other females to determine how a healthy uterus
should appear (esp. in size) soon after litter birth and loss (see Section 5 below). Giant otters
can also be scale trained to monitor weights. Weight gain may also indicate pregnancy.
(Weight loss may indicate the existence of health problems. See Chapter 3 and Part C below for
husbandry training information.) The aforementioned practices will help caretakers to prepare
in advance methods to provide parents rearing cubs isolation from human disturbances and
presence. Unfortunately sometimes, litters are born without zoo staff being aware of a
pregnancy and cubs are soon eaten after parturition because of disturbances.
If you have applicable information that you would like to contribute, please submit it and your
full contact information to the compiler/author of this manual. The information you contribute
will be submitted for further study and publication and it will be credited to your
name/institution within all studies/publications. It is very important to also include the sex, date
of birth, exact age at the time the information was taken or at least the approximate age, place of
origin/sire and dam identification, and reproductive and/or social structure history of each otter
along with the applicable information. As well if you have interest to research these matters or
are engaging in such studies already, please alert the compiler/author.
Part C. Ultrasounds (to detect pregnancy/health), Lactation Samples, Biological Values &
Better Management via Husbandry Training
Husbandry training, through operant conditioning, should be carried out to help better manage
giant otters in captivity (e.g. for health, transport, rearing of offspring etc.) and increase
knowledge. Unfortunately, only a couple zoos that hold giant otters practice this technique.
The many benefits of husbandry training are therefore not gained at most institutions and many
questions remain unanswered.
Sea otters, North American river otters, and even Asian small-clawed otters have been trained
quite frequently in recent years to perform husbandry behaviors. Although, giant otter
husbandry training has only been reported to be carried out at Dortmund and Philadelphia Zoos
and target and station training was carried out at Brasilia Zoo.* Dortmund Zoo is the only
known zoo to have trained giant river otters to receive ultrasounds and to allow milk sampling,
physical body examinations (via palpation), and physiological data to be taken (i.e. heart and
respiration rate, body temperature). Both Philadelphia and Dortmund Zoos have target, crate,
and weight scale (with beam/human scale) trained their giant otters. Two giant otters at Brasilia
Zoo were trained to follow and station at a target. [All of the training and husbandry procedures
have been done in semi or totally protected contact. I.e. the otters and trainers were/are always
separated by containment barriers during training and the husbandry procedures. Only the
trainer’s hand, most of his/her forearm, and/or equipment (i.e. target, ultrasound head,
thermometer, stethoscope etc.) are passed through the barrier fence.] See Chapter 3 for
information on training techniques and a detailed report on the training program and
corresponding husbandry procedures used at Dortmund Zoo.
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