Captive Asian short-clawed otters (
            <i>Aonyx cinereus</i>
            ) learn to exploit unfamiliar natural prey

Saliveros, Alexander M.; Bowden-Parry, Madison; McAusland, Fraser; Boogert, Neeltje J.

doi:10.1098/rsos.211819

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 85 publications

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“…Many studies on enrichment in otters utilize food to some extent to keep the otter engaged or as a reward for participating in the task [7,[19][20][21][22]56]. In comparison, the NOR task relies on the sensory stimuli alone to engage the animal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Object Recognition Memory Using Sensory Enrichment with a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

Wegman

DeLong

2023

JZBG

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Research studies that shed light on cognitive and perceptual abilities in otters can utilize tasks that provide environmental, structural, food-based, sensory, or cognitive enrichment. The current study examined the use of the novel object recognition task, a task commonly used to study memory in non-human animals, as a form of sensory enrichment. The subject of the current study was an adult male otter that resided at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY, USA. The stimulus pairs for this task were multisensory (3D objects and odorants). In this study, three memory intervals were investigated: 10 min, 1 h, and 24 h (each memory interval included 10 sessions). The otter spent only 15% of his time near the stimulus pairs and engaged in very few explorations, suggesting that this was not an effective form of sensory enrichment and did not provide any evidence for long-term memory. These results contrast strongly with our previous studies with otters using a two-alternative forced-choice task that provided engaging cognitive enrichment. We suggest that cognitive enrichment, including enrichment via training (and food-based enrichment), may be more effective for otters than sensory enrichment. Future research should further investigate cognitive phenomena in otters using tasks involving cognitive enrichment. These types of studies can improve enrichment practices and promote positive welfare for otters in zoos, inform conservation efforts, and grow our limited knowledge of otter perception and cognition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Object Recognition Memory Using Sensory Enrichment with a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

Wegman

DeLong

2023

JZBG

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Captive Asian short-clawed otters ( Aonyx cinereus ) learn to exploit unfamiliar natural prey

et al. 2022

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Foraging plays a vital role in animal life histories, and learning whether unfamiliar food items are palatable is a key part of this process. Animals that engage in extractive foraging must also learn how to overcome the protective measures of their prey. While otters (subfamily Lutrinae) are a taxon known for their extractive foraging behaviour, how they learn about prey palatability and acquire extractive foraging techniques remains poorly understood. Here we investigated (i) how captive Asian short-clawed otters ( Aonyx cinereus ) learned to interact with, and extract meat from, unfamiliar natural prey and (ii) how their exploitation of such prey compared to their ability to overcome artificial foraging tasks containing familiar food rewards. Network-based diffusion analysis showed that otters learned to interact with unfamiliar natural prey by observing their group mates. However, once interacting with the prey, they learned to extract the meat mainly asocially. In addition, otters took longer to overcome the protective measures of unfamiliar natural prey than those of extractive food puzzles. Asian short-clawed otter populations are declining in the wild. Increasing our understanding of how they learn to overcome novel foraging challenges could help develop pre-release training procedures as part of reintroduction programmes for otter conservation.

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Assessment of Captive Environment for Oriental Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) in Otter Cafés in Japan

Ushine,

Kamitaki,

Suzuki

et al. 2024

Animals

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This study investigates the captive environments of oriental small-clawed otter (OSO; Aonyx cinereus) cafés in Japan, aiming to identify discrepancies with established welfare guidelines. Improved management of these commercial facilities could raise awareness about the difficulties of keeping OSOs as pets and enhance their welfare. Utilizing the role of commercial facilities in public outreach, we consider that the rigorous implementation of proper care practices in these establishments could help mitigate the increasing demand for OSOs domestically and contribute to the conservation of the OSO. In this study, we focused on the critical aspects of the captive environment necessary to maintain the psychological well-being of OSOs and evaluated the captive environments of OSOs housed in animal cafés for OSO welfare using non-invasive methods. Based on zoo husbandry standards, it was found that there were deficiencies in aquatic environments and solitary housing conditions; however, the enrichment tools aligned with the guidelines. The results suggest that deviations from the recommended elements in the environment of OSOs in captivity are associated with a tendency of these OSOs to develop various diseases. It is deemed necessary to amend the regulations governing animal-handling businesses to include welfare criteria, and it is considered essential for each establishment to operate only after ensuring sufficient welfare for the OSOs.

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Captive Asian short-clawed otters ( Aonyx cinereus ) learn to exploit unfamiliar natural prey

Cited by 3 publications

References 85 publications

Investigating Object Recognition Memory Using Sensory Enrichment with a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

Investigating Object Recognition Memory Using Sensory Enrichment with a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

Captive Asian short-clawed otters ( Aonyx cinereus ) learn to exploit unfamiliar natural prey

Assessment of Captive Environment for Oriental Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) in Otter Cafés in Japan

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