Caring for Selected Otter Species (Asian small-clawed, Cape ...

Auditory, visual, and olfactory introduction should be successfully completed before attempting physical
introduction. Successful introductions have been reported as early as one day and have taken as long as several
months or more. Training animals to station may be beneficial when attempting introductions, but there is limited
data on its use with otters.
L. canadensis: Some introductions will never be successful with L. canadensis, particularly adult female to
adult female introductions (Reed-Smith 2001), and some adult female to sexually immature male introductions. In
general, the latter introductions should not be attempted while the female is in estrus; it is possible that immature
males may be regarded as “female” by adult females leading to aggression on her part. Unsuccessful introductions
never progress beyond the screaming, lunging, or fighting stage, or result in stressful stand-offs where the animals
stay away from one another, scream if the other approaches, and may refuse to go on exhibit if the other animal is
there. Introductions of breeding pairs should be handled as any other, but may move more quickly particularly
during estrus. Introductions of all other L. canadensis pairings/groups should be conducted as indicated above.
Hand-reared L. canadensis may require some time to transfer their focus from humans to otters. The
easiest way to accomplish this is to have their primary caregiver perform the introductions and stay with the
animal (free contact situations), or on the other side of the caging (protected contact situations), for the initial
introductions. Once the hand-reared animal is comfortable with the other otter, their attention often transfers
immediately to that animal and away from the human caregiver. Hand-reared otters should be introduced to other
otters as soon after weaning as possible. It is also recommended to raise more than one pup together, if possible
(Reed-Smith 2004b). Fostering of pups to another nursing female was successful the one time tried (Columbus Zoo
and Beardsley Zoo).
L. maculicollis: For male-female introductions - estrus female spotted-necked otters that have previously
been with a male are easily introduced again to the same male, or to a different, experienced male. When
introducing a sexually mature but inexperienced male and female, less aggression occurs if the pair is introduced
when the female is not in estrus (Schollhamer 1987).
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