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

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Association of Zoos and Aquariums 60 Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual behaviors include nest building, carrying pups, and bringing food to the pups during weaning. Access to pools and water sources should be strictly monitored to prevent newborns from drowning. A. capensis: Pregnant females should be offered nest box choices and separated from the male to give birth (R.Meyerson, unpublished data). To date, records indicate two institutions have successfully bred this species in North America. One facility had one male with two females; both females bred and produced offspring. The other facility housed a pair. The animals were housed together 24 hours a day; females were separated to give birth at both facilities (Reed-Smith & Polechla 2002; R.Meyerson, personal communication). The male can be reintroduced to the female and pups when they are swimming well. L. canadensis: There seems to be a mate preference for breeding, with some females showing a definite preference for particular male and lack of interest in others when they have a choice. Some successful zoos separate pairs for several months prior to the breeding season, introducing them every few days once the female’s estrus begins. Others offer multiple mate selections to the females, and others have been successful keeping single pairs together year around. An extensive ex-situ population study (N=13.14 animals) attempted to determine breeding associated behaviors in zoos and aquariums across the species over two years. The study’s behavioral results show an increase in pair association, mutual grooming, and extended copulation in those pairs that reproduced successfully (N=3), but was inconclusive otherwise (J.Reed-Smith, data in preparation). In the wild, males do not participate in pup rearing (Melquist & Hornocker 1983; Rock et al. 1994). In zoos and aquariums, parturient females should be given privacy (particularly for primiparous females) and nest box choices supplied with plenty of dry bedding (all females). Males have been successfully left in the exhibit with parturient females in large exhibits that provide numerous visual barriers and allow the male to stay out of the female’s sight. In all other cases, the male and female should be separated prior to the birth to prevent injury to the male or neglect of the pups by the female. In multi-female groups, other females may also need to be separated from the parturient female. When separated, the male or non parturient female should not be required to pass the parturient female’s den to enter the exhibit; if this cannot be done, the other animals should be removed entirely from the exhibit or the female sequestered away until she deems it time for the pups to meet the male (see below). Males can be reintroduced to the female and pups once they are swimming proficiently, as early as 60-75 days or more typically by 80 to 90 days (Reed-Smith 2001). Actual gestation is calculated at roughly 68-73 days (Bateman et al. 2009.); pair separation should occur either when the female becomes aggressive towards the male or roughly 10-14 days prior to anticipated parturition date. Due to this species’ delayed implantation and total gestation time of >10 months, it is often difficult to anticipate delivery date, particularly for primiparous females. In these cases, staff should base their management decisions on the female’s behavior. If she becomes aggressive to the male or other exhibit mates, begins to show excessive nesting behavior, or spends increasing amounts of time in her nest box, the pair should be separated. It is important to remember that the female should be monitored for health issues during this time, as these behaviors also can be signs of illness. Management change should be scheduled so that they do not interfere with the birth and rearing of the pups. Any modifications to the exhibit should be finished several months prior to possible pupping season. Denning/nest box choices should be introduced at least one month prior to possible pupping season. Changes in management routines, e.g., closing the female in holding at night, closing her in holding alone, etc. should be introduced to the female at least a month prior to the possible parturition period to allow her time to become comfortable with the new routine. If the male will have to be removed from the exhibit entirely, this should be done several weeks prior to possible parturition to allow the female a period of adjustment. Generally, the best way to handle pair separation is setting up the female in off-exhibit holding (providing there is adequate space). Once the pups are old enough to begin swimming lessons (some females begin this instruction as early as 30 days, more typically at 40-50 days), the family group and the male can be alternated on exhibit. When the pups are swimming well, after about three months, the male can be introduced to the family group. This should be handled, as with any introduction, via olfactory, visual, and then physical introduction to the female alone first, and under controlled circumstances as far as possible (see Introduction/Reintroduction).
Association of Zoos and Aquariums 61 Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual L. maculicollis: Females should be separated from the male at about gestation day 55 (gestation ranges from 60-63+ days calculating from the day of last observed breeding) (Schollhamer 1987), or when she shows signs of aggression towards the male (R.Willison, personal communication). Males should be separated from a pregnant/nursing female unless the exhibit is large enough for him to stay out of her line-of-sight. When separated, he should not be required to pass the female’s den to enter the exhibit; if this cannot be done, he should be removed entirely from the exhibit or the female sequestered away until she deems it time for the pups to meet the male. Females with pups are more of a danger to the male than typical males are to the pups. Males can be reintroduced to the female and pups once they are swimming proficiently and eating on their own, typically when the pups are roughly four months of age (R.Willison, personal communication). Females should always be given a choice of denning sites with bedding provided for them to use if it is wanted. Schollhamer (1987) states that at Institutin A female spotted-necked otters did not use bedding of any kind. Kruuk (1995) references the presence of soft, leafy substrate or pebbles in most dens he or other researchers located. Brookfield Zoo used a nest box made from molded plastic and fiberglass measuring 68.6cm long x 51cm wide x 38.1cm high (27" x 20" x 15") with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. The box was placed 4cm (1.5in) off the floor, and was accessed via a drop-guillotine door 25.4cm high x 20.3cm wide (10" x 8") (Schollhamer 1987). P. brasiliensis: This species lives in family groups with pairs and older offspring jointly raising new pups. Therefore, a pair should never be separated during pregnancy or pup rearing. Typically, animals should not be separated from the family group unless health problems, change in social status, or family friction develops. Removal of any member of a group during pup-rearing, or close to parturition, will likely cause litter loss. Animals separated for extended periods should be put through a standard introduction (see Chapter 4, section 4.3), including visual, acoustic, and olfactory contact at first, and then physical contact (Sykes-Gatz 2005). Even a few days of separation have been known to be long enough to cause difficulty, such as serious fighting, when reintroduction was attempted (K.Lengel, personal communication). Secondary accommodations should be provided for giant otters to allow for the temporary separation of family members if needed. These secondary enclosures should provide husbandry conditions similar to primary enclosures. Nursery Groups: Typically, nursery groups of neonates are not seen in river otter species. The following species-specific information is available: A. cinereus: All otters of a family group take an active role in caring for the young. It is not uncommon for the sire and older offspring to be involved in all behavioral activities of the mother and her newborns. A. capensis: Nursery groups are not typical for this species. L. canadensis: Nursery groups are not typical for this species. Helper otters have been reported from the wild. In these cases, a female with partially grown pups is accompanied by another adult female (Rock et al. 1994; R.Landis, personal communication). There are reports of two adults with young animals, but the relational composition of these groups is unknown (Reed-Smith 2001). L. maculicollis: Nursery groups are not reported for this species, but further research is needed. Adolescent groups (roughly one year or older) have been reported (Reed-Smith in prep.). P. brasiliensis: As with the Asian small-clawed otter, generational groups are typical in the wild; true nursery groups are not reported for either species. Separation of Mother and Offspring: The timing of mother-offspring separations can have long-term effects on the development of otter pups and on the reproductive success of adults. The following species-specific information is available: A. cinereus: Adolescents are not forced from the group. In zoos and aquariums, it is necessary to remove older offspring, as the group size can become quite large in a year, leading to aggression resulting from over-crowding. Typically, the age at which older pups should be removed varies with the size of the exhibit and compatibility of the group. A. capensis: The timing of emigration is unknown in the wild, but emigration of sub-adults at some point is presumed.
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