Design Requirements
Needs Statement
Oscar the Otter, at a national zoo, needs enrichment in order to keep his stress levels low, and maintain his overall health.
-Needs to add to land space/ exhibit area
-Needs to be a fully functional model
Further Specifics
-Less than $50
-Safe, indestructible, cannot be used to escape enclosure
-Buoyant
-Should not cause obesity, allergies, or over-activity and over stress
Background
The North American river otter, Lontra Canadensis, is found in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. This appendix outlines species that are not currently endangered, but without strict regulation and habitat protection they could become endangered. Their diet consists mainly of fish and crustaceans but also includes amphibians, water fowl, and insects. Otters are known to be a very agile, strong, and resourceful creatures. They are known to use tools, such as rocks to break open crustacean shells to get to the meat inside. They employ observational learning, usually offspring imitating and learning from their mothers. They can jump and climb heights up to 6 feet and have one of the greatest bite strengths in the mammalian class at over 223 N.