By Nicole Wexler | Director of Development
Since we last reported to you, we were once again disappointed to find that our female has not become pregnant despite significant nesting and mating activity.
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) has been among the most difficult species to kept and bred successfully under captive conditions. Only in the 1970’s was regular captive breeding of this species achieved and even then, this occurred in very few European Zoos and private centers. Based on these experiences, the European Association of Zoo’s "European Breeding Program" (EEP) developed "husbandry guidelines" for this species including recommendations for enclosures, breeding, nutrition, veterinary care etc. These guidelines led to an increase in successful captive births however conservation of this species remains fraught with difficulties.
We hope to be able to report positive news in our next report. We will not give up.
Yours in hope,
Team Otter at the Jerusalem Zoo
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