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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Chapter 5 for how to measure, Chapter 4 for when otters grow to full size/ general growth rates,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Chapter 3 for husb<strong>and</strong>ry training. An incomplete age - weight growth curve is available<br />
(see Graph 2), but no body length growth curve is known to exist. See Table 6 for cub weights.)<br />
This will help field biologists to determine cub age in the wild (Groenendijk & Hajek, pers.<br />
comm.). This data is also necessary for comparison during h<strong>and</strong>rearing of all cubs <strong>and</strong> for<br />
monitoring/assessing the development of parent reared cubs in captivity <strong>and</strong> in the wild. It<br />
would also be interesting to assess if there are significant differences between these factors for<br />
h<strong>and</strong>reared captive-born <strong>and</strong> orphaned wild-born individuals. Information, such as this, can not<br />
be acquired through parent reared cubs in captivity or in the wild, so it is vital that records such<br />
as these are kept <strong>and</strong> shared. There are no known reports of rectal body temperature of healthy<br />
h<strong>and</strong>reared cubs. This <strong>and</strong> other physiological information should be gathered from h<strong>and</strong>reared<br />
cubs for comparison to adults, other cubs, <strong>and</strong> to increase in general knowledge. See Section 4<br />
above.<br />
Diseases, illnesses, parasites, injuries etc. that each individual orphaned wild cub contracted in<br />
the wild (or/<strong>and</strong> during h<strong>and</strong>rearing) <strong>and</strong> each captive-born individual contracted in captivity<br />
should be recorded <strong>and</strong> studied. This is important to assess the health problems that wild giant<br />
otters <strong>and</strong> captive giant otters are exposed to. The general health, as well as degree of physical<br />
<strong>and</strong> behavioral development, of each wild-born orphaned <strong>and</strong> captive-born individual, upon its<br />
arrival to the h<strong>and</strong>rearer, should be documented. This is important to use for comparison to<br />
other cubs <strong>and</strong> to help determine cub age. Appropriate vaccinations for giant otter cubs, the<br />
availability of vaccinations within specific countries, <strong>and</strong> disease prevention methods need<br />
immediate attention <strong>and</strong> study. See Section 4 above.<br />
Unfamiliar or even temporarily separated otters of all ages should be properly introduced to<br />
avoid otter death or injury. It is important that h<strong>and</strong>rearers/institutions involved are aware of<br />
these potential problems. See below <strong>and</strong> Chapter 2 for more information. More study should be<br />
carried out to determine at what ages h<strong>and</strong>reared otters (i.e. cubs, juveniles, or sub-adults) are<br />
old enough to be successfully <strong>and</strong> slowly introduced to unfamiliar captive adult, sub-adult,<br />
juvenile otters, or cubs. The age that it is most optimal to first expose cubs to small tubs of<br />
water/large swimming pools, to begin swimming lessons, to safely leave cubs alone around<br />
water tubs or large swimming pools should be studied. How it is best to teach cubs to swim<br />
should also be determined.<br />
An international study on the census, future, <strong>and</strong> success of both h<strong>and</strong>reared captive-born <strong>and</strong><br />
orphaned wild otters needs to be exp<strong>and</strong>ed. For example, how successfully these individuals<br />
pair with a mate, breed, <strong>and</strong> rear offspring (whether they are housed permanently in captivity or<br />
released in the wild) should be scientifically studied over a long-term period. Many questions<br />
exist regarding matters such as how human contact, contact or lack of contact with other otters<br />
during h<strong>and</strong>rearing, housing conditions, “hacking out” methods etc. affect success.<br />
For example, giant otters are highly social <strong>and</strong> live in family groups in the wild. Mated pairs<br />
bond for life <strong>and</strong> all family members (including sub-adult offspring) care for the young. Each<br />
litter usually consists of more than one cub <strong>and</strong> cubs are dependent upon the other family<br />
members for care, socialization, learning life skills etc.. It is therefore ideal if more than one<br />
giant otter cub (i.e. siblings or healthy cubs near their same age) can be h<strong>and</strong>reared/housed<br />
together. This will help provide for their stimulation, enrichment, <strong>and</strong> mental, social,<br />
behavioral, <strong>and</strong> physical development <strong>and</strong> health needs [i.e. socialization,<br />
companionship/contact, play interactions etc.] (Read <strong>and</strong> Meier 1996).<br />
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