International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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Section 14 Heating Sources for Housing, Ambient Air Temperature & Humidity Guidelines......................... Section 15 Exposure to Water, Swimming Lessons & Cleaning / Bathing Cubs.............................................. Section 16 Companion Cubs and Handrearer / Cub Interactions...................................................................... 254 255 257 Table 2. Summary of the international historical reproductive and rearing success of giant otters in zoos..................................................................... Table 3. Summary of the international reproductive and rearing success of giant otters in zoos 1998 – 2002................................................................... Table 4 : International Giant Otter Census Summary 2002 to September 30, 2003..................... Table 5 : International giant otter census by institution 2002 to September 30, 2003................. Table 6: Weights and Lengths for Captive-Born Giant Otters..................................................... Table 7: Adult Giant Otter Weights and Lengths........................................................................ Graph 1 : Giant Otter Cub Mortality......................................................................................... Graph 2 : Giant Otter Cub Weight Growth Curve..................................................................... 260 261 262 263 264 267 268 269 References.................................................................................................................................. 270 6
Introduction This manual is a second edition to the “Husbandry and Management of the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)” (Sykes-Gatz 2001). This revised, expanded, and updated version should be used as replacement for the 2004 manual that was distributed in the ISIS 2004 CD Library, the 2004/2005 version previously distributed with a similar name, as well as the 1 st edition manual just aforementioned. The guidelines within this manual should be used instead of the recommendations for giant otters presented within the “Zoo Standards for Keeping Otters in Captivity” (2002, 2003 & 2004) AZA Otter Species Survival Plan (SSP). Note: Sheila Sykes-Gatz is listed as a co-writer of this particular AZA document. Some specific information regarding only the care of giant otters within that publication is incorrect. This manual is divided into multiple categories, parts, sections, and chapters that deal with specific areas of interest. Within Chapter 2 some information overlaps in different sections and some crucial information has been made redundant on purpose for readers who wish only to refer to particular sections or parts rather than Chapter 2 or the manual in its entirety. It is hoped that this manual will stimulate communication and information sharing among all institutions holding giant otters, as well as increase awareness of the existent problems of this species in captivity and encourage actions needed to resolve them. A broad overview of husbandry and management information is included. It expands upon the recommendations that were presented within the 1 st edition manual and covers a wider variety of topics. For example, the individual land to water area ratio necessary for each enclosure, as well as separable enclosure area, below 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size and a minimum size for indoor enclosures that attach to outdoor enclosures in temperate climates are presented within this manual. (Note: each enclosure below 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size, requires a different land to water area ratio based on its particular size.) Specific recommendations for these situations were not included within the 1 st edition. Discussions on specific substrates necessary for all enclosure land and floor areas and the size of the area and depth needed for deep digging areas are expanded upon within this manual. (These issues are of great importance, so they are emphasized within the 2 nd edition.) These guidelines are based upon a compilation of the research, experiences and contributions from the zoos/institutions that have held giant otters in captivity world-wide and historically and from those who have studied this species in the wild. This information was gathered from published and unpublished papers/studies, survey results, conferences, lectures, and personal communications. In 1997 the “South American Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) Husbandry, Management, and Historical Census Survey” (Sykes 1997-99) was sent to 28 zoos and institutions that hold or held giant otters. These 4 and 8 page surveys gathered information on captive husbandry and management practices, basic life history data, reproduction, and behavior of giant otters at the corresponding institution. Sixteen or 57% of the institutions surveyed responded to the questionnaire. The continuation of information collection from the aforementioned and other institutions has been on-going during and since the completion of the original survey. This is vital so that knowledge about these animals can be increased and shared with all. The invaluable information provided by the all of the aforementioned sources helped make these recommendations possible. All of those who made contributions are credited within this manual for the specific information they provided. All are also listed under the section “Contributing Institutions”. Any additional information that persons would like to contribute for future editions are most welcome and appreciated. Please contact the compiler/author of this manual. See below for the contact information. 7
Page 1 and 2: International Giant Otter Studbook
Page 3 and 4: Dear reader, With this, the second
Page 5 and 6: Section 2 Introduction to Substrate
Page 7: Parental Behavior Overview.........
Page 11 and 12: Contributing Institutions/Individua
Page 13 and 14: Dortmund Zoo: Current Director: Dr.
Page 15 and 16: Giant Otter Characteristics (The fo
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 1 Husbandry and Management
Page 19 and 20: informal international network has
Page 21 and 22: are only released into the wild, th
Page 23 and 24: malfunctions, due to severe inbreed
Page 25 and 26: maturity (i.e. at 2 years old), the
Page 27 and 28: emaining 3 institutions bred otters
Page 29 and 30: elow 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size
Page 31 and 32: difficulties/abnormalities to a mod
Page 33 and 34: are to the water, but it is also de
Page 35 and 36: deep digging areas as recommended,
Page 37 and 38: greater problems. I.e. the ability
Page 39 and 40: additions that can be made to enclo
Page 41 and 42: (esp. around approx. 10 to 11 years
Page 43 and 44: Hagenbecks Tierpark Giant Otter Vac
Page 45 and 46: Dietary Related Problems: Diarrhea
Page 47 and 48: times over 10 years) then disappear
Page 49 and 50: Thyroid Malfunctions: see Chapter 1
Page 51 and 52: unpublished report 1997). His hind
Page 53 and 54: vitamin B 1 tablet and one 400 IU v
Page 55 and 56: otters were exposed to in their enc
Page 57 and 58: animal, e.g. for serious/life threa
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conditions/problems can be identifi
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that the otters are very familiar a
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Section 5 Handrearing Captive-Born
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Chapter 5 for how to measure, Chapt
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proper authorities (i.e. park offic
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oth cubs were adopted by a wild ott
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Chapter 2: Husbandry and Management
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The following conditions (i.e. Numb
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The provision of the conditions lis
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proportionately increased and the w
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does not offer the same advantages
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*Note: Duplaix’s guidelines for o
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dry easily, drain well, and be resi
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It is necessary that every indoor a
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Deep Digging Area Necessary For Eac
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play, exercise etc. on. Note: when
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Cleaning Procedures for Substrates
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[4”] in width, could be placed 10
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The aforementioned problems are cau
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difficulties/abnormalities involvin
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they could cause similar walking di
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It is not uncommon that pink foot/t
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No additional or detailed informati
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provided as recommended, so that ot
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housed. It also may be that the lon
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or high humidity, esp. extended per
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dry areas in enclosures should also
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These husbandry provisions produce
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underground den building which is a
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more unsuitable the enclosure land
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unfamiliar and temporarily separate
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exposed to similar situations as ju
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inappropriate the enclosure conditi
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study. They also have been successf
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furnishings will also remain drier
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Live growing bamboo springs back up
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Section 5 Locations and Designs for
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all substrates) with/without vegeta
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indoors. Otters can also use each c
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Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m
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other than substrates, and toys fro
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to help prevent water filtration/dr
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Section 10B discusses the locations
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areas may be sufficient when otters
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their normal daily terrestrial acti
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described below and in Section 12 b
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hear, that even familiar keepers ar
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nervous in behavior even during nor
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expansive enclosures are available
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the husbandry practices recommended
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keep cubs from crawling out (Duplai
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Chapter 1 for studies that should b
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practices and enclosure designs all
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care for the cubs (Schenck & Schenc
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was moved to another enclosure (Gat
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Inbreeding, physical, behavioral, a
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underground dens in this expansive
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Section 12 Natural Underground Dens
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22.34 ft] (11 sites) ; Kabo creek (
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Section 13 Den Construction “Den
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should not be introduced with physi
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door) could instead be made in the
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Section 15 Toys & Methods for Addit
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Although once items such as cardboa
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e designed or modified with these c
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Section 18 Introducing Unfamiliar &
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have been housed together and then
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contact introduction, i.e. to stop
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Section 19 Diet and Feeding Only go
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Cuiaba Zoo in Brazil (Marcato de Ol
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are consumed in varying amounts acc
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Captive giant otters have been obse
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part of the target. The target we u
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to secure the guillotine door with
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it stays close to the target. This
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these births may go undetected. Ult
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those working with her, from being
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ody temperatures to be taken, when
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abnormally frequent or excessive, i
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with a male (other than growing up
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of course, because information rega
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seen entering the shelter alone, bu
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At Hagenbeck Tierpark, Wünnemann (
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52.5 cm [20.6"]. It is assumed that
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cub weight growth curve in Graph 2
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contain glucose rather than sucrose
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and frequency after each toileting/
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Section 4 Toileting: To produce eli
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when no other better formula is ava
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prepared artificial milk replacers
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avoid dietary problems and help cub
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formula is accomplished. When cubs
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suggested above. The same feeding f
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successfully can often be difficult
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should then be allowed to lick the
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The general guideline that food/for
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very gently dipped in the bowl into
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enough), and explore while under su
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dig into, well-draining etc.) are n
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ecome healthy and their housing can
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Section 16 Companion Cubs and Handr
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Cubs must exercise and explore to p
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Table 3 : Summary of the internatio
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Table 5 : International giant otter
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Days/ Months Sex Weight/Length (ent
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Table 7: Adult Giant Otter Weights
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Graph 2 : Giant Otter Cub Weight Gr
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Duplaix, N. 1980. Observations on t
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asiliensis, Gmelin, 1788) No Zooló
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Otter Colloquium Pietermaritzburg 1
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International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

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