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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oth cubs were adopted by a wild otter family that resided within their study area. During this<br />
particular study, no other observations were made after that point. It has to be noted that this was<br />
not a long-term study nor was it scientific. The long term ability to survive, find a mate, <strong>and</strong> rear<br />
offspring can not truly be evaluated by 3 observations in a one month period. Update: in 2003, a<br />
follow up was published (Gomez 2003) which explains that three reports were received where<br />
the h<strong>and</strong>reared female was identified five years after her original release. (The identification was<br />
made by three persons, who were not involved in the h<strong>and</strong>rearing or rehabilitation program for<br />
the otters.) This female was observed with a family group which included four giant otters in<br />
total. The author explains, that these reports “indicate that this not so young otter (6 years old),<br />
is now the head (alpha female) of one small group comprising four otters, two adults <strong>and</strong> two<br />
juveniles (probably her cubs). This follow up study does not mention if the rehabilitated <strong>and</strong><br />
released male otter was seen again since the conclusion of the first study. Gomez also states “As<br />
a preliminary conclusion, the rehabilitation process appears to have been successfully achieved,<br />
i.e. that the individuals were capable of surviving <strong>and</strong> behaved as normal wild giant otters,<br />
completely independent <strong>and</strong> able to breed.” This follow-up report can not be considered<br />
scientific or to be carried out over a long-term. In another case, WSPA (World Society for the<br />
Protection of Animals) attempted to release a young confiscated h<strong>and</strong>reared giant otter in<br />
Colombia. This attempt was unsuccessful as the otter kept on returning to the people that tried to<br />
release it. The otter was later placed at Cali Zoo where it still lives (Corredor, pers. comm.).<br />
Unfortunately, no scientific long-term studies have been carried out on the survival success of<br />
the other h<strong>and</strong>reared orphaned wild giant otters that are known to have been reared/hacked<br />
out/rehabilitated for release <strong>and</strong> returned back into the wild. Those animals, which went through<br />
these processes at Karanambu Ranch in Guyana, constitute the majority of the total number of<br />
giant otters that are known to have been rehabilitated for release <strong>and</strong> finally released. Reports<br />
have shown the combined mortality rate of those animals during the rearing/hacking<br />
out/rehabilitation process for release (which at Karanambu includes letting the otters have access<br />
to wild conditions or/<strong>and</strong> access to the wild when they are unmonitored <strong>and</strong> on their own) <strong>and</strong><br />
those remaining surviving otters that were finally fully released was very high (i.e. the majority<br />
did not survive). This was because most of those otters were assumed or known to have been<br />
killed or were not seen again (i.e. see the reasons listed above <strong>and</strong> below). Below, are details on<br />
the aforementioned experiences.<br />
“From 1985 to 2003, thirty-four orphaned giant otters (22 males, 12 females) were h<strong>and</strong> raised<br />
for eventual return to the wild at The Karanambu Cattle Company Limited Ranch (Karanambu),<br />
on the Rupununi River in Guyana, South America. Young giant otters brought to Karanambu<br />
ranged in age from 2 weeks to 9 months old; most were young cubs (8-10 weeks). Feeding,<br />
housing, exercising, veterinary care, <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation protocols for young giant otters were<br />
developed during this period. Six giant otter orphans died during the early stages of h<strong>and</strong> rearing;<br />
two of these were killed, one by a caiman <strong>and</strong> one by another orphaned otter. Twenty-eight<br />
orphans were successfully reared at Karanambu, <strong>and</strong> then began the process of rehabilitation.<br />
During the early stages of their return to the wild, the giant otters would spend days <strong>and</strong> then<br />
nights on the Rupununi River away from human care, often interacting with wild giant otters.<br />
One male giant otter was never rehabilitated, remaining at Karanambu for four years until wild<br />
otters killed it. Six giant otters were killed before they were considered completely rehabilitated,<br />
including three killed by people <strong>and</strong> three by other giant otters. Another four giant otters were<br />
presumed dead, presumably also killed by people. Sixteen of the orphaned giant otters (57% of<br />
those that began the process of rehabilitation) returned to the wild; these otters joined wild otter<br />
family groups in the area. Although long term monitoring was not possible, Karanambu staff<br />
observed the rehabilitated otters repeatedly: 13 of these 16 giant otters were observed 2-4 years<br />
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