International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

mixing them in with appropriate furnishings after they are added. In the rare case that these
furnishings cannot be removed, then they must be completely covered over with mulch
and/or soft sand that is at least 60 cm (24”) in depth. Deeper depths, i.e. at least 100 cm
(3.28 ft), are highly advisable although. A depth of at least 100 cm is needed when land or
floor areas with the aforementioned unsuitable substrates are intended to serve as the
deep digging areas. When the outdoor enclosure has natural land under those non-removable
substrates, appropriate soft loose soil can also be used as recommended to cover over the
unsuitable surfaces. Very deep soil depths are necessary in all outdoor enclosure locations.
When a soil does not have pebbles, gravel, small rocks, construction sand, or abrasive
sand mixed throughout it and it does not possess or cannot retain all of the
aforementioned necessary qualities (see above) and this soil already exists within an
enclosure, it is essential that the following be carried out to provide appropriate surfaces. This
is regardless of whether or not the soil is covered with vegetation/turf or it contains hills. It is
necessary that nearly the entire enclosure land area be covered over with soft sand, mulch
or/and soil as recommended in Parts A-B below. (If the enclosure is expansive in size, i.e.
600 m 2 [6,458 ft²] or over, a significant portion should be covered over as just described.) Any
remaining land area can be left with the original soil.
Coarse, abrasive, sharp, or rough solid fixed surfaces that can not be removed should be
smoothed down if possible before appropriate substrates are added or before otters are
introduced to the enclosure. This includes the land and floor area, all pool surfaces, and all
enclosure walls/containment barriers that are within the otter’s reach (i.e. when they are
standing on their hind legs, logs, nestboxes etc.). For example, walls made of rough artificial
rockwork within the otters’ reach may cause health problems, as otters can rub / lie against or
dig on the wall. (Sometimes giant otters will make strong digging motions on walls with their
front feet and they often stand on their hind feet during this activity.) See under Section 18 for
when containment barriers and land/floor areas adjacent to them can be excessively dug on/into.
Part A. Contains the following two categories:
Land and Floor Substrates Necessary For Each Enclosure
Deep Digging Area Necessary For Each Enclosure
The provision of the recommended enclosure land and floor substrates and deep digging
area for each enclosure are among the most crucial requirements necessary for the
husbandry of giant otters. (See Section 3 below for why these provisions are required.) The
qualities that the recommended substrates and all substrates need are listed in the
introduction above; they are only briefly discussed below. The substrates that otters must
not be directly exposed to or must only be minimally exposed to are described in the
introduction above. How to easily modify inappropriate substrates, in both indoor and
outdoor enclosures, so they provide appropriate surfaces are discussed both above and
below. It is important that the introduction above is reviewed before the following parts are
read.
Land and Floor Substrates Necessary For Each Enclosure
(See deep digging area needed for each enclosure in the next category below.)
Note: an “enclosure” refers to any area an otter is held or has access to; e.g. this includes offexhibit
areas such as dens, temporary holding and quarantine areas etc.. “Land” refers to all
indoor and outdoor base surfaces, whether man-made or natural ground.
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