International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

proper authorities (i.e. park officials, wildlife authorities, police, government, conservation
groups) so that any necessary action can be taken. It is very important that the number of otters
that are orphaned and each particular situation is reported and evaluated to determine the impact
on wildlife, what particular problems exist, and how these problems can be better addressed
and/or resolved. This is crucial to help protect this endangered species.
What should be done with wild born orphans after handrearing (i.e. release in wild, place in
zoo/institution etc.)? This is a very serious issue that deserves much attention, scientific study,
and open discussion among all involved. The consequences of the final decisions combined will
have a serious impact on giant otters in captivity and may have some impact on this species in
the wild, as both of these populations are currently in serious danger of extinction.
It is essential that the institutions that are interested in acquiring/keeping otters after handrearing
meet the requirements stated in the “Synopsis” under Chapter 1. Pairing the individual with an
otter that it has not grown up and/or been handreared with, may be an important factor to help
increase the chances of successful reproduction, therefore this is highly recommended. (The
otter obviously should be paired with an unrelated individual.)
Great planning and a scientific approach are necessary if handreared wild orphaned otters are
intended to be released back in the wild (Burnette 1994). The goal, called “hacking out”, is to
introduce the otter to the wild while it is under controlled conditions and release it only after it is
able to function on its own. Animals need to be supplied natural food items, taught natural
living and hunting skills (i.e. so they can catch their own food etc.), be kept in natural enclosures
and exposed to as many natural environmental conditions and items as possible, and be
gradually removed from human contact well-before release. Appropriate giant otter habitat also
must be found and scientifically studied beforehand, to help ensure survival upon release.
Methods used to teach wild orphaned giant otters how to successfully live in the wild (i.e.
hunting skills etc.) and how and where to release these otters have not been scientifically studied
and no guidelines have been developed. How it is best to house and expose the intended
releasee to as many natural objects and conditions as possible, how and what natural food items
should be supplied, and when and how to minimize human contact before release have not been
studied in the aforementioned manner. The appropriate age to release otters and the appropriate
places for release (i.e. undisturbed areas with plentiful food and den areas, minimal competition,
mates to pair with etc.) have not been researched.
Scientific and long-term studies on the success of handreared orphans that are released into the
wild and what factors before and after their release affect their success, from what is known at
this time, have not been carried out. The ability to survive, find mates, form pairs, breed and
rear cubs have not been assessed in long term scientific follow-up studies. How the otter’s lack
of experience (i.e. in skills for living in the wild, family group/social interactions, and cubrearing
assistance etc.), lack of exposure to diseases before release, and exposure to humans
before release affect success has not been thoroughly investigated. How competition with other
giant otters in the territory released and encounters with predators (e.g. caimans) and humans
(i.e. releasees have lost their fear of humans and humans pose threats to otters) affect success is
only known by general reports.
To date, scarce information and no known long-term scientific studies exist on any of the
aforementioned issues concerning handreared wild orphaned giant otters that have been released
back into the wild. These matters need immediate international attention. It is crucial that
65