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 2:<br />
<strong>Husb<strong>and</strong>ry</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong> Guidelines<br />
Explanation of Terms <strong>and</strong> Mathematical Units Used Within This Manual<br />
The definition of the following terms used within this manual are very specific (esp. the terms<br />
“enclosure” <strong>and</strong> “l<strong>and</strong>” which can be easily interpreted in many ways), therefore they should be<br />
reviewed so that the guidelines within this manual can be properly interpreted. In addition to<br />
the explanations below, a definition will usually be presented only the first time that the term<br />
appears within Chapters 2-5.<br />
Both metric <strong>and</strong> U.S. units are presented within this manual for all measurements. The U.S.<br />
unit is presented within parentheses ( ) <strong>and</strong> it follows each metric unit. Within this manual, the<br />
symbol . (a dot/period) indicates a fraction of a whole number follows after this symbol (e.g. 2.5<br />
= 2 ½) . The symbol , (a comma) indicates that the entire number is separated into the unit of a<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>/thous<strong>and</strong>s only to make the reading of that number easier (e.g. 24,000 = twenty four<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>).<br />
“Cub” refers to a giant otter that is between approx. one day to six months old.<br />
“Den” refers to an individual man-made room, usually small in size [e.g. 4 m² - 9m 2 ] (43.05 ft² -<br />
96.88 ft²) <strong>and</strong> constructed with concrete, wood, etc., where an otter has access to. A nestbox can<br />
be placed or animals can be briefly held (i.e. for enclosure cleaning, etc.) in a den. Dens are offexhibit<br />
<strong>and</strong> they do not serve as a nestbox. See the definition of “nestbox” below.<br />
“Enclosure” <strong>and</strong> “exhibit” are used interchangeably. They refer to any/all areas, both indoors<br />
<strong>and</strong> outdoors, in which a captive otter is held or has access to, regardless of whether or not<br />
public/visitors can view these areas or the areas are intended for temporary or permanent use.<br />
They include such areas as dens, off-exhibit holding <strong>and</strong> quarantine areas, separable enclosure<br />
areas, areas on-exhibit (i.e. for public viewing), etc..<br />
“Exhibit”: see the term “enclosure” above.<br />
“Expansive enclosure/exhibit” refers to any enclosure that is 600 m 2 (6,458.4 ft²) or larger.<br />
“Furnishings <strong>and</strong> furniture” refer to any natural items (e.g. soft loose natural substrates, logs,<br />
boulders, trees, cut or growing bamboo etc.) that can be placed in an otter enclosure.<br />
“Furniture”: see the term “furnishings” above.<br />
“Juvenile” refers to a giant otter that is approx. between six months to one year old.<br />
“L<strong>and</strong>” refers to any base surface, whether man-made (e.g. concrete, tile, artificial rockwork,<br />
wood, floor etc.) or natural ground (e.g. soil, mulch, s<strong>and</strong>, rock etc.), within the giant otters’<br />
indoor <strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosures. These areas do not include the portion of the enclosure that is<br />
intended for water (i.e. a swimming/wading area). The term “floor” may be used in addition to<br />
the term “l<strong>and</strong>” for greater clarification.<br />
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