International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

When an indoor or outdoor enclosure or separable enclosure area is between 240 m 2
(2,583.4 ft²) to 600 m 2 (6,458.4 ft²) in total size it is necessary to provide at least 60% land
area in each of these locations (Duplaix-Hall 1972 &1975; Duplaix pers. comm. 2001; Sykes-
Gatz 2001 & unpublished reports). I.e. each aforementioned location must not have less than
60% land area and it should have 40% water area. E.g. a 240 m 2 enclosure would require a
144 m 2 (1,550 ft²) land area and a 96 m 2 [1,033.3 ft²] water area.
Enclosures that are 600 m 2 (6,458 ft²) or larger should have at least 60% land area, although
when these expansive enclosures have very large areas of useable quality dry land available
somewhat smaller land proportions (%) will offer otters with sufficient land area. As well,
within these enclosures, water area proportions that are smaller by a reasonable amount will
offer otters with sufficient water area. Providing enough land area is crucial although even
within enclosures that are 600 m² or larger. Great caution must be taken when land area
proportions are reduced below 60% within such enclosures. The amount that the land
proportion is reduced should be in a reasonable proportion compared to how much the
enclosure is actually above 600 m 2 (6,458 ft²) in size. If the total enclosure size is only a small
amount above 600 m 2 the land area ratio % should not be decreased below 60%. For example,
Americana Zoo’s (Brazil) 895 m 2 (9,633 ft²) enclosure has a 42% land to 58% water ratio.
Although these dimensions do not provide at least 60% land area, the otters are provided with
sufficient land area because the enclosure is well above 600 m 2 in size. Also, in an expansive
exhibit, such as the 635 m 2 (6,835 ft²) exhibit in Brasilia Zoo (Brazil) that has an 85% land to
15% water ratio, sufficient water area is available.
Part C. Minimum Enclosure Sizes
The provision of expansive 1 complexly and naturally enriched enclosures is optimal (Duplaix-
Hall 1972 & 1975; Foster-Turley 1990; Wünnemann 1995; Genealogical Meeting…in Brazil”
1998; Duplaix pers. comm. 2001; Sykes-Gatz 2001 & unpublished reports). 1 Within this manual
“expansive enclosure/exhibit” means any enclosure that is 600 m 2 [6,458.4 ft²] or larger. The
larger, more complex, and natural the enclosure, the more benefits gained. (The enclosure also
requires the recommended land and water area designs and locations [esp. appropriate land to
water ratios that provide enough land], substrates, and deep digging area sizes to offer these
benefits.) This type of living area provides optimal enrichment and living conditions for giant
otters. An “expansive” exhibit that offers otters ample area to dig underground dens is very
important to help aid successful cub-rearing. This is because the larger the enclosure, the further
parents can get away from human disturbances and presence during cub-rearing (i.e. the more
privacy they have) and as well, natural underground dens provide additional visual and acoustic
isolation. Also offered is an optimal area where otters can carry out, to the fullest extent possible
in captivity, the innate terrestrial behaviors that are among the most important activities needed
to allow them to significantly reduce or prevent the negative responses that can occur and cause
significant problems during cub-rearing, new/unusual situations, and typical daily circumstances.
(See Section 3 below for the aforementioned terrestrial activities.) Negative responses such as
stress, nervousness, boredom, frustration, or fear etc. can cause problems such as litter loss,
serious fights during introductions of unfamiliar animals, less/non directed or non goal oriented
behaviors, stereotypical behaviors etc..
The minimum size enclosure for one giant otter pair should be at least 240 m 2 (2,583.4 ft²)
(Duplaix-Hall* 1972 & 1975). Extra room should be considered for offspring. Minimum size
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