International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
that the otters are very familiar <strong>and</strong> comfortable with the caretaker during this period to lessen<br />
disturbance/stress (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992; Flügger 1997). (See Chapter 2-3 for more<br />
information).<br />
<strong>Husb<strong>and</strong>ry</strong> training should also be carried out to increase knowledge. Many details about giant<br />
otter behavior, physical characteristics, <strong>and</strong> biology (esp. reproduction & physiology) are still<br />
unknown <strong>and</strong> much research needs to be conducted. (See Part B above <strong>and</strong> below for aspects<br />
that should be studied.) Such information is needed as a reference source for giant otters in the<br />
wild, as well as for comparison studies in captivity. <strong>Otter</strong>s should not be anesthetized <strong>and</strong> no<br />
other potentially stressful, harmful, or dangerous methods (to both otters <strong>and</strong> staff) should be<br />
used for the specific <strong>and</strong> sole purpose of gathering such information. When otters are trained to<br />
allow procedures to be conducted for research, information can be easily <strong>and</strong> safely gathered<br />
without stress or harm to the otters or staff <strong>and</strong> studies can be conducted to help conservation<br />
efforts in the wild <strong>and</strong> help better manage giant otters in captivity. The otters will also have an<br />
enriching experience.<br />
For example, field biologists have recently requested information on adult body length <strong>and</strong><br />
corresponding weights <strong>and</strong> sexes for comparison to giant otters in the wild. Measurements<br />
should only be done through husb<strong>and</strong>ry training or when the otter has been anesthetized for<br />
another reason (i.e. medical emergency etc.). Milk samples that normally could not be drawn<br />
(without stressful or dangerous methods) may be drawn from lactating females only after litter<br />
loss <strong>and</strong> via operant conditioning. (See Section 5 below <strong>and</strong> Chapter 5 on why giant otter milk<br />
sampling is important <strong>and</strong> Part B above for taking adult measurements.) Additionally, during<br />
anesthesia some physiological values, such as normal resting heart <strong>and</strong> respiration rate <strong>and</strong> body<br />
temperature, will change so true values can only be reported via training (see below).<br />
Examples of husb<strong>and</strong>ry training <strong>and</strong> procedures, specific physiological values drawn, <strong>and</strong><br />
specific biological information that is needed for study/comparisons are discussed below. Much<br />
of this information has never been gathered before <strong>and</strong> it is highly recommended that other zoos<br />
carry out such training so that scientific knowledge can be increased <strong>and</strong> comparisons can be<br />
made with other otters. When cubs are h<strong>and</strong>reared this information should also be gathered.<br />
A female giant otter at Dortmund Zoo has been husb<strong>and</strong>ry trained to allow ultrasounds to be<br />
conducted on her, via portable ultrasound. From what is known, Dortmund was the first <strong>and</strong><br />
only zoo to conduct ultrasounds on giant otters in this manner (i.e. when otters are not under<br />
anesthesia <strong>and</strong> via training). Ultrasounds are used at this institution to detect giant otter<br />
pregnancies well before birth <strong>and</strong> to determine health status <strong>and</strong> health problems (i.e. uterine<br />
condition) related to reproduction. Several ultrasounds were conducted during gestation up<br />
until one week before this mother gave birth. Fetuses <strong>and</strong> uterine condition were observed<br />
during the ultrasounds. The female aborted decomposing fetus parts 4 to 5 hours before the<br />
birth of live born cubs <strong>and</strong> missed several following estrus cycles, which indicated that she may<br />
be slowing down/ending in her reproductive capabilities <strong>and</strong>/or may experience health problems<br />
during future pregnancies. (See more information under Chapter 4.) It is suspected that either<br />
her late age or great number of litters, or both, are responsible for these problems. The size <strong>and</strong><br />
condition of the female’s uterus was also monitored by ultrasound one time per week for several<br />
weeks after litter loss (which was soon after birth) <strong>and</strong> once every two weeks thereafter. Staff<br />
wanted to be sure that the cub which was aborted in a decomposed state, did not infect the<br />
mother’s uterus <strong>and</strong> that no cub parts were left within her uterus. (Antibiotics were also<br />
administered as a precaution.) Because normal uterine size is not yet known, no comparisons<br />
with other females could be made to determine if this female’s uterus decreased in size at a<br />
59