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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dry easily, drain well, <strong>and</strong> be resistant to eroding easily after otters dig large areas of<br />
vegetation/turf away, regularly groom <strong>and</strong> dig into the soil throughout the entire<br />
enclosure, <strong>and</strong> regularly carry/track water onto the l<strong>and</strong>. Soil, with/without vegetation or<br />
hills, needs to be able to retain all of the necessary qualities even after these uses (see<br />
Section 3 below for why).<br />
Any substrate, with/without vegetation/turf, that does not possess or cannot retain all of<br />
the aforementioned necessary qualities is an inappropriate substrate to offer for direct<br />
use. When inappropriate substrates exist within any indoor or outdoor giant otter<br />
enclosure, whether the enclosure is already in use or not, it is crucial that the appropriate<br />
soft s<strong>and</strong>, mulch, or soft loose soil types, depths, <strong>and</strong> qualities be furnished as<br />
recommended to provide the necessary surfaces (see below). These methods are also<br />
essential when the quality <strong>and</strong> effectiveness of any substrate to function as it should is<br />
questionable (esp. in the case of soil). <strong>Otter</strong>s either will not or cannot use or cannot use without<br />
difficulty, inefficiency, lack of comfort, <strong>and</strong>/or harm to their health <strong>and</strong>/or normality,<br />
inappropriate substrates or insufficient deep digging area sizes to dig, groom, play, exercise, or<br />
simply live on. See Parts A-B <strong>and</strong> below for the mulch, s<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> soil depths that are needed to<br />
cover over inappropriate surfaces. Also described are the mulch bark piece sizes that are too<br />
large for otters to use <strong>and</strong> the recommended size for use, as well as the specific mulch type <strong>and</strong><br />
s<strong>and</strong> qualities needed. The required soil qualities are discussed above. Note: soil should only<br />
be used on natural outdoor l<strong>and</strong> areas; see why below.<br />
When l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area designs <strong>and</strong> locations that are necessary to prevent the l<strong>and</strong><br />
from becoming very damp/wet are not provided as recommended (esp. enclosure l<strong>and</strong> to<br />
water ratios that offer smaller l<strong>and</strong> area proportions than recommended) l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floors<br />
should be covered with the appropriate s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or mulch types, rather than soil. This is<br />
because s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> mulch drain <strong>and</strong> dry more easily than soils. Although it is also necessary,<br />
whether the enclosure is already in use or not, that the inappropriate l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> water area<br />
designs <strong>and</strong> locations be corrected so that at least the minimum recommended<br />
requirements for these are fulfilled. This is essential to prevent health problems.<br />
All hard or artificial floor <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> surfaces (i.e. concrete, tile, rockwork, gunnite, wood etc.)<br />
other than pebbles, gravel, <strong>and</strong> small rocks, must be nearly entirely covered over with<br />
mulch <strong>and</strong>/or soft s<strong>and</strong> as recommended in Parts A-B below. Soil should not be used to<br />
cover over these surfaces. [Soil will not be able to drain properly or dry easily if it is used to<br />
cover over (i.e. if it is placed on top of) hard or artificial surfaces such as concrete etc..] Areas<br />
of pebbles, gravel, <strong>and</strong> small rocks must be removed or covered over differently (see below).<br />
Soil, s<strong>and</strong>, or mulch mixed with pebbles, gravel or small rocks (smooth, rounded, or<br />
otherwise) throughout, construction or abrasive s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> any substrates that contain<br />
these mixed throughout, <strong>and</strong> areas of pebbles, gravel, <strong>and</strong> small rocks must not be used<br />
within any enclosure. If areas of these substrates are already within enclosures they<br />
should be totally removed. After these unsuitable substrates are removed, then it is necessary<br />
to cover over nearly the entire base surface area with mulch, s<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong>/or soil as recommended<br />
in Parts A-B. (Mulch generally does not contain pebbles or small rocks <strong>and</strong> soil usually does<br />
not contain many larger rocks throughout, although if they or any other substrate does, they<br />
should be removed as well.) <strong>Giant</strong> otters can easily dig 100 cm (3.28 ft) deep <strong>and</strong> this behavior<br />
is carried out frequently. They may dig into inappropriate substrates if no other better digging<br />
area exists, but digging <strong>and</strong> other activities carried out on these surfaces, will harm the otters.<br />
Removing the inappropriate substrates will also prevent otters from digging them up <strong>and</strong><br />
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