International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

When two of the affected otters were housed on enclosures where the majority or nearly all
of the land and floor area was covered with soft loose natural substrates, their on-going
walking difficulties/abnormalities were greatly reduced or fully resolved over time (during a
½ year to a year’s time). A third affected otter is also currently recovering in the same
manner. The third otter showed significant improvement within only 3 months. During
recovery he was housed on an enclosure nearly entirely covered with soft loose substrates as
opposed to an enclosure where only the majority (which is not sufficient) was appropriately
furnished. (The third otter was more affected and he was more exposed to hard surfaces than the
otter that fully recovered in a ½ year’s time on an enclosure where only the majority was
appropriately furnished. Both otters were although moderately affected. It seems that quicker
recovery times are possible when enclosures are furnished as recommended.) During and after
the recoveries, deep digging areas above the recommended minimum size, swimming areas,
appropriate land to water ratios/ample land area, plentiful natural furnishings and enrichment,
and outdoor access in temperate climates were/are also provided. The substrates consisted of
soft sand and mulch.
The aforementioned otter whose problems were greatly reduced after one year of being housed
on an enclosure nearly entirely covered with soft loose natural substrates, formerly showed
severe walking difficulties and abnormalities. I.e. he had great difficulty when walking. This
animal was exposed to hard surfaces longer than any of the other affected otters. After the full
recovery of the other otter (i.e. this otter formerly showed very obvious significant abnormalities
and moderate difficulty when walking), he was housed in an inappropriately furnished 65 m 2
(699 ft²) temporary holding area for 8 months. Within this holding area, was a 40 m 2 (430 ft²)
indoor enclosure with only tile (i.e. hard) surfaces, small pools, and a nestbox with woodwool
inside. He had access to the indoors 100% of the time and was only given access to a 25 m 2 (269
ft²) outdoor deep sand area a few or more hours per day or not at all in colder weather. Within
eight months, this animal again developed significant and obviously abnormal walking
patterns/difficulties and it was moderately difficult for him to walk. He although recovered fully
again after being housed in the appropriate conditions needed for recovery and healthy
maintenance. The temporary holding area has since been expanded to 90 m 2 (968 ft²) and all
land areas are nearly entirely covered with either deep mulch or soft sand, including a 45 m 2
(484 ft²) deep sand digging area, and other plentiful natural furnishings and enrichment. An
appropriate land to water ratio also exists and the original swimming areas offered were
unchanged. The otters here are also given outdoor access the entire year and the third
aforementioned otter, with moderate difficulties/abnormalities, was housed here during his first 3
months of recovery. (The addition of soft loose natural substrates was the only enclosure
modification made for one of the recovered otters and the other two aforementioned otters were
moved to totally new enclosures furnished as described.)
To date, these were the only animals, of the affected otters, that were given the new conditions
mentioned (i.e. that are needed for recovery and healthy maintenance). No medical treatment
was given to these otters for their ongoing problems. The extent of difficulties/abnormalities
and recovery was/is assessed by visual observations alone for all of the affected and recovered
otters. Recovery was/is easily observed as the walking difficulties/abnormalities were very
obvious. The otters’ body weight remained constant both before, during, and after their
recoveries. None of the affected otters (i.e. of all of the animals known to have displayed this
on-going problem) were exposed to stairs within any of their enclosures and the otters did not
encounter other structures/surfaces where they had to regularly climb on to access or utilize it.
Stairs or any structure/surface that otters must climb every day in a significant manner to access
or utilize it should not be used within giant otter enclosures as there may be a possibility that
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