Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

Status of Asian OttersThe Red List is issued every two years and the 1996 version is the first to make use of the newIUCN categories and criteria, officially adopted in November 1994.List 3: Lower Risk: Near Threatened--Amblonyx cinereus (listed as Aonyx cinerea);Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal,Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. (IUCN, 1996).Asian Small-Clawed Otter Species Survival Plan® (SSP)The Asian Small-Clawed Otter SSP was established as a model for other endangered social otterspecies in 1981. It was felt that social otters would be difficult to breed reliably in captivity, andthat appropriate husbandry should be established using a non-endangered otter species beforecaptive breeding programs were initiated for endangered species. Consistent breeding of thisspecies continues to have limited success. The SSP continues to explore and implementalternative strategies to enhance the breeding success.In 1995 at the Master Plan Meeting it was decided that a Husbandry Manual, incorporated into aResource Manual for Asian small-clawed otters, would be beneficial in making the decision as towhether to continue as an SSP or as a PMP.There are many different ways to maintain small-clawed otters in captivity, it should be notedthat this document is just a guideline to be used for reference. Flexibility and new ideas ofmanagement are always encouraged. This document is a compilation of comprehensive surveysthat were sent to each holding institution in 1997. Member institutions and their representativesare:InstitutionAudubon Park & Zoological GardensBermuda Aquarium, Museum & ZooBirmingham ZooBronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation ParkBrookfield ZooCheyenne Mountain Zoological ParkCleveland Metroparks ZooColumbus Zoological GardensDisney’s Animal KingdomIndianapolis ZooKansas City Zoological GardensLincoln Park Zoological GardensMiami MetrozooMilwaukee County Zoological GardensMinnesota Zoological GardenNational Zoological ParkOmaha’s Henry Doorly ZooReid Park ZooSanta Barbara Zoological GardensRepresentativeRhonda VotinoJack WardMarcia ReidmillerJames DohertyMelinda Pruett-JonesSusan EngferDonald J. KuenzerDusty LombardiSue MaherLynne VillersConrad E. SchmittJohn GramieriAlice GilleyJan RafertJames H. StreaterBelinda ReserLiz HarmonMike FlintNancy HollenbeckTable of Contents/IntroductionV