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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The provision of the conditions listed in Numbers 1-3 above are among the most crucial<br />
requirements necessary for the husb<strong>and</strong>ry of giant otters. These provisions are just as<br />
important as the need for a swimming area. When indoor <strong>and</strong>/or outdoor enclosure l<strong>and</strong> to<br />
water ratios offer smaller l<strong>and</strong> proportions than recommended or/<strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>/floor surfaces are not<br />
nearly entirely covered with soft loose natural substrates (including appropriate depths, types,<br />
<strong>and</strong> qualities) or provided with sufficient size deep digging areas as recommended, health<br />
problems <strong>and</strong>/or abnormalities will occur. Other inappropriate l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area locations<br />
<strong>and</strong> designs <strong>and</strong> unsuitable locations for nestboxes, dens <strong>and</strong> areas for natural underground dens<br />
can also cause or worsen health problems. Some of these problems are not uncommon among<br />
captive giant otters <strong>and</strong> some are very serious or have the potential to become very serious.<br />
Also originally, some were mistaken to be an exhibition of healthy physical condition or normal<br />
healthy behavior. It was although, after long-term studies, recently discovered that they are<br />
actually an exhibition of unhealthiness or abnormality for captive Pteronura, rather than the<br />
opposite. The ability of giant otters to successfully rear cubs <strong>and</strong> adjust to new/unusual<br />
situations can also be adversely affected or seriously compromised in the aforementioned<br />
conditions. See Sections 3 <strong>and</strong> 5 for more information. Also when parents are not provided<br />
with privacy/isolation from human disturbances during cub-rearing, cub-rearing success has<br />
been negatively affected. Normal/routine human activities tolerated before parturition can cause<br />
parents significant stress at <strong>and</strong> after parturition <strong>and</strong> can result in the parents’ failure to care for<br />
their cubs properly (i.e. parents can neglect, abuse, or eat their cubs <strong>and</strong> litter/cub loss can occur<br />
as a result). See Section 10 <strong>and</strong> Chapter 1 Section 2 for more information. Reports of<br />
significant injury <strong>and</strong> death during improperly conducted giant otter introductions have not been<br />
uncommon. See Section 18. Cubs esp. may not be able to exit water areas safely or at all with<br />
inappropriate water area designs. See Section 7.<br />
When cubs are reared to independence, unfamiliar <strong>and</strong> temporarily separated animals are<br />
introduced <strong>and</strong> then housed together, or otters are maintained to an old age in inappropriate<br />
enclosure conditions or/<strong>and</strong> with inappropriate husb<strong>and</strong>ry practices, this does not validate that<br />
the enclosure conditions <strong>and</strong>/or husb<strong>and</strong>ry practices used were appropriate. (I.e. this does not<br />
mean that these circumstances are appropriate because such outcomes have occurred.) It is<br />
essential that inappropriate enclosure conditions <strong>and</strong> husb<strong>and</strong>ry practices are not repeated or<br />
used at any other institution based on the conclusions that such outcomes have occurred.<br />
Pool drains, filters, skimmers, water filtration/cleaning systems, waterfalls, underwater viewing<br />
areas, swim tanks/tubs, <strong>and</strong> all water areas must be able to accommodate the soft loose<br />
natural substrates that may be tracked, pushed, dug etc. into the water from l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor<br />
areas. The simple designs <strong>and</strong> furnishings described in Section 2C can help prevent substrates<br />
from entering water areas <strong>and</strong> blocking drains or causing other problems. Although, even with<br />
these methods, some substrates will enter the water. Because it is necessary that every indoor<br />
<strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor surface is nearly entirely covered with soft loose natural<br />
substrates as recommended, enclosure water areas etc. should be designed or modified with<br />
these considerations in mind. (These methods will also help prevent leaves, sticks, bark, etc.<br />
that have fallen from trees, fish remains, natural furnishings other than substrates, <strong>and</strong> toys from<br />
blocking pool drains or causing other problems.)<br />
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