Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual - Association of Zoos and Aquariums

3.1 Preparations
Animal transportation must be conducted in a manner that
adheres to all laws, is safe, and minimizes risk to the animal(s),
employees, and general public (1.5.11). Safe otter transport
requires the use of appropriate conveyance and equipment that is
in good working order.
When transporting otters there always should be at least two
people present; if animals have been anesthetized the veterinarian
always should be present. Staff involved in transports should
Association of Zoos and Aquariums 21
Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual
Chapter 3. Transport
AZA Accreditation Standard
(1.5.11) Animal transportation must be
conducted in a manner that is safe,
well-planned and coordinated, and
minimizes risk to the animal(s),
employees, and general public. All
applicable local, state, and federal
laws must be adhered to.
understand their duties and have a clear idea of the institutions policies regarding transports. The Otter
SSP has no specific recommendations regarding staff roles in transports but does recommend
procedures and policies be clearly defined and understood in advance by all participating staff.
The equipment must provide for the adequate containment, life support, comfort, temperature control,
food/water, and safety of the otters(s). Safe transport also requires the assignment of an adequate
number of appropriately trained personnel (by institution or contractor) who are equipped and prepared to
handle contingencies and/or emergencies that may occur in the course of transport. Planning and
coordination for animal transport requires good communication among all affected parties, plans for a
variety of emergencies and contingencies that may arise, and timely execution of the transport. At no time
should the otter(s) or people be subjected to unnecessary risk or danger.
The transport of wild animals is regulated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The
standards of care provided within this chapter are based on IATA regulations (e.g., IATA 2007), best
practice recommendations from the AZA Otter SSP, and AZA Accreditation Standards.
Pre-shipment Exams: All otters should receive a thorough pre-shipment physical examination (for more
information, see Chapter 6). Ideally, a copy of the pre-shipment physical exam findings and laboratory
work should be sent to the veterinarian at the receiving institution before the animal is transferred. If an
otter has a current medical condition requiring ongoing treatment, the case should be discussed between
the veterinarians at the shipping and receiving institutions before the animal is moved. All animal
shipments should be accompanied by a hard copy of the medical record, as well as a health certificate
and the USDA acquisition, disposition, or transport form (form #7020) (APHIS 1997) as well as any other
paperwork required by IATA, carrier, or regulatory agency. Institutions using MedARKS should provide
the receiving institution with electronic copies of the medical records. Dietary, enrichment, and training
records should be sent prior to shipping the animal
Crate Requirements: All possible relevant regulatory agencies should be checked for shipping, health,
and permit requirements before transporting animals (USFW, state regulations, CITES, etc.). The
International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes specific guidelines for transport containers used
for animal shipments. These guidelines are available from the Publication Assistant, IATA, 2000 Peel
Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2R4 (Ott Joslin & Collins 1999). An alternate address for IATA is
International Air Transport Association, 800 Place Victoria, P.O. Box 113, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
H4Z 1M1. The Live Animals Regulations document is available in print or CD ROM format, and can be
ordered from sales@iata.org. IATA regulations change periodically, and so the most recent publication or
website should be consulted. It is very important to adhere closely to these requirements as airlines may
refuse to fly animals in containers that do not conform to the guidelines. In general, IATA regulations
require the following:
All shipping crates should allow for adequate ventilation. Ventilation apertures should be small
enough to prevent the escape of the animal and small enough that the animal cannot get any part of its
body through the opening.
Generally, a Vari Kennel ® may be used for A. capensis, A. cinereus, L. canadensis, and L.
maculicollis, with the following modifications. The grill door should be covered with securely fixed weld
mesh and all ventilation openings covered with wire mesh. The door should have secure fasteners at the
top and the bottom. A curtain that can be raised and lowered and does not block ventilation should be
fixed over the door to reduce light inside the container. A dropping tray should be fixed to the floor and