OZ: Otters in Zoos, Aquaria, Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Latest additions:
Summary of Nutrition Guidelines for Otters in Zoos, Aquaria, Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Sanctuaries added 16th January 2012
Summary of Veterinary Care Guidelines for Otters in Zoos, Aquariums, Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Centers added 15th January 2012

• Mission Statement
  • Condensed (PDF 126 KB)
  • Full Version (PDF 37 KB)
     
• Composition of the group
  • The group consists of a number of core members with various advisors. These are organised into various taskforces covering issues such as specific species husbandry, rehabilitation and so on.
  • The core membership are: Jan Reed-Smith (Chair), Lindell Andrews, Sarah Duncan, Carol Heap, Heinrich Krüger, Lionel LaFontaine, Katrin Ruff, Sheila Sykes-Gatz, Aleš Toman, Heike Weber, Lesley Wright, Grace Yoxon
     
• Annual Report 2008
   
• List of Zoo Organisations
  • If yours is not on the list, please contact us
     
• Publications of the OZ Task Force
  • Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for Asian Small-clawed Otters in Captivity
    (PDF 249 KB)
    Also available in Vietnamese (PDF 421 KB)
    Also available in Bahasa Indonesia ( 238 KB)
  • Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for North American (aka Nearctic) River Otters (Lontra canadensis) in Captivity
    (PDF 265 KB)
  • Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for African spotted‐necked Otters in Captivity.
    (PDF 385 KB)
  • Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra)in Captivity.
    (PDF 361 KB)
    Also available in Italian (PDF 347 KB)
  • Basics of Otter Training 
    (PDF 829 KB)
  • Successful Hand-rearing and Rehabilitation of North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
    • Section 1: When to rehabilitate, young pup care, formula feeding, and weaning (PDF 780 KB)
    • Section 2: Otter Housing, Vocalizations, and Health Care (PDF 617 KB)
    • Section 3: Otter Release, Resources and Suggested Reading (PDF 422 KB)
  • Summary of Veterinary Care Guidelines for Otters in Zoos, Aquariums, Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Centers
    (PDF 273 KB)
  • Summary of Nutrition Guidelines for Otters in Zoos, Aquaria, Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Sanctuaries
    (PDF 380 KB)
    
    
• Useful documents made available by their authors:
  • North American River Otter Husbandry Manual 3rd Edition
    (PDF 5MB)
  • Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)
    Dusty Lombardi and Jenny O'Connor (PDF 1.2 MB)
  • International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management Information and Guidelines 2nd Edition (2005)
    Sheila Sykes-Gatz (PDF 4MB)
  • International Giant Otter Studbook 2nd Edition July 2011 (data valid to 1st July 2011)
    Sheila Sykes-Gatz and Volker Gatz (PDF 4 MB)
    
  • Hand Rearing 1.1 Asian Small Clawed Otter (Amblonyx cinereus) 21 February 2007 through 2 July 2007
    Terry Webb (PDF 31 KB)
  • Optimizing the Nutrition of Captive Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra)
    Katrin Ruff (PDF 550 KB)
    
  • Enrichment 2004
    (PDF 141 KB)
  • Husbandry Guidelines: Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
    Alfred Melissen, Otterpark Aqualutra, August 2000 (PDF 1.4 MB)
  • Minimum Husbandry Guidelines for Asian Small-Clawed Otters in Captivity
    March 2008 (PDF 194 KB)
  • Minimum Husbandry Guidelines for Smooth-Coated Otters in Captivity
    August 2008 (PDF  328 KB)
  • Nutritional and energetic studies on captive Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra)
    Dr. Katrin Ruff, 2008 (PDF 147 KB)
  • Strategies for the Conservation of the Giant Otter in the Meta Department, Colombia, South America
    (includes details of husbandry of orphaned giant otters rehabilitated and released into the wild)
    Fundación Zoológica Colombiana (Dr Ivan Rubiano et al), 2009 (PDF 1 MB)
  • Caring for Selected Otter Species (Asian small-clawed, Cape clawless, Nearctic, and spotted-necked otters) Version 3 December 2009
    Jan Reed-Smith, Celeste (Dusty) Lombardi, Kim Lengel, Barb Henry, Gwen Myers, D.V.M., Jessica Foti, and Juan Sabalones, 2009 (PDF 1.8 MB)
  • Care of Neotropical Otters (in Spanish)
    Geraldine Nidasio
    These documents are very large, so if you cannot download them, please contact Lesley to get a CD containing the whole set
    
    • Biology (PDF 1.3 MB)
    • Reproduction 1 (PDF 635 KB)
    • Reproduction 2 (PDF 192 KB)
    • Reproduction 3 (PDF 1.2 MB)
    • Reproduction 4 (PDF 170 KB)
    • Nutrition (PDF 512 KB)
    • Medical (PDF 2.2 MB)
    • Exhibits (PDF 1.6 MB)
      
       
• Members only area (needs user name and password)