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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Deep Digging Area Necessary For Each Enclosure<br />
In addition to the necessary l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor substrates aforementioned, each indoor enclosure<br />
(see exceptions below) <strong>and</strong> each outdoor enclosure must have at least a 40 m 2 (430.56 ft²) area or<br />
significantly larger area, where soft non-abrasive s<strong>and</strong> or mulch, a minimum of 40 cm to 60 cm<br />
(16” to 24”) in depth, or hillsides, with the recommended designs <strong>and</strong> soil qualities, allow for<br />
deep digging. The same substrate qualities, types <strong>and</strong> husb<strong>and</strong>ry techniques needed for<br />
enclosure l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floors are also necessary for the deep digging areas (see above <strong>and</strong> below). E.g.<br />
soil, s<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> mulch must not have pebbles, gravel, or small rocks (smooth, rounded, or<br />
otherwise), or construction or abrasive s<strong>and</strong> mixed throughout them. Soil requires additional<br />
specific qualities. When an indoor enclosure 75 m 2 (807.3 ft²) or below in size attaches to an outdoor<br />
enclosure that provides at least a 40 m 2 deep digging area <strong>and</strong> otters have access to both enclosures,<br />
the indoor enclosure requires at least a 20 m 2 (215.28 ft²) area where soft s<strong>and</strong> or mulch, a minimum<br />
of 40 cm to 60 cm (16” to 24”) in depth, allows for deep digging. When soil is not used within<br />
enclosures, the mulch <strong>and</strong>/or s<strong>and</strong> deep digging areas should instead cover the majority of the<br />
l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor surface area or nearly the entire l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> floor surface area in every indoor <strong>and</strong><br />
outdoor enclosure <strong>and</strong> they should be as deep as possible. They should have at least 100 cm<br />
(3.28 ft) mulch <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong> depths (see below). When enclosure terrain is fairly flat <strong>and</strong> soft loose soil<br />
(with/without turf or vegetation) is provided, otters will not be able to dig deeply, therefore plentiful<br />
hillsides, rather than the minimum size area above, should be provided. They should border<br />
nearly the entire length of the enclosure l<strong>and</strong> area contour line. The hillsides provided should<br />
be at least 1.8 to 2 m (5.9 ft to 6.56 ft) high <strong>and</strong> have an angle of 40-45 o . They must be made of a<br />
soft soil type that remains, after continual use, loose enough that otters can easily dig deeply<br />
into it, as well as, effectively groom on it. <strong>Otter</strong>s must be able to dig at least 40 cm to 60 cm (16”<br />
to 24”) in depth in these areas. The hills should not be steeper or much less steep than a 40-45 o<br />
angle <strong>and</strong> it is recommended that they be located behind <strong>and</strong> near the water area shoreline (see<br />
Section 5 below). For multiple reasons, it is highly recommended to provide soft s<strong>and</strong>, at least the<br />
minimum size area <strong>and</strong> depth recommended, for deep digging, in addition to the mulch or<br />
hillsides offered for these purposes (see above). It is necessary that any enclosure, whether it is<br />
already in use or not, that does not provide at least the minimum recommended deep digging<br />
area size, depth <strong>and</strong> substrate qualities <strong>and</strong> types, be modified so that it does. (See the<br />
introduction above for modification methods.)<br />
The recommended minimum size <strong>and</strong> depth for the deep digging area is not optimal, only<br />
minimal. E.g. captive Pteronura can easily dig 100 cm (3.28 ft) deep into soft s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> mulch<br />
throughout the entire expanse of their enclosures (e.g. within enclosures well above minimum<br />
size). They as well can dig many deep underground dens throughout extensive hillsides (e.g. a<br />
500 m 2 [5,382 ft²] area composed of hills) that have the recommended designs <strong>and</strong> substrate<br />
furnishings. Substrate depths should be as deep as possible <strong>and</strong> deep digging areas as large<br />
as possible. It is important although that plentiful level l<strong>and</strong> area is offered when hills are<br />
provided. (E.g. level l<strong>and</strong> can be located at the top of the hills, along the water’s edge, or/<strong>and</strong><br />
elsewhere within outdoor enclosures <strong>and</strong> some areas can also be furnished with deep soft s<strong>and</strong>).<br />
When otters dig significant size areas of mulch <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong> to the maximum depth possible, i.e.<br />
when significant size holes are created, these holes should be filled in again, with the substrates<br />
dug away, so they can be re-dug. (Underground dens that are dug into soil should not be filled in<br />
so they can be used for sleeping <strong>and</strong> keeping cubs in etc..) It is highly recommended to<br />
additionally give a deep pile of leaves (esp. where the leaves can remain dry) for variety (i.e.<br />
not as substitute for the required deep digging areas or substrates). <strong>Giant</strong> otters also<br />
particularly enjoy digging, playing, rolling, <strong>and</strong> grooming in this. Leaves that have fallen from<br />
deciduous trees are ideal. Leaves from coniferous trees or that have thorns, thistles, poisonous<br />
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