Attack of the river otter

We are building a new exhibit in the aquarium called the Ozark Stream. We will be putting mammals on display for the first time. One of my friends was appointed the lead over mammals. She has worked for wildlife rehab places quite a bit. We have two raccoons, two beavers and just received our second river otter, a male. We purchased him from a wildlife supplier for $3000. He is 3 years old and was living in Canada working for a carnival. Apparently he was taught how to snow ski!

We received our female in September. She was captive-born, but not tame. She was just getting used to handlers getting in the tank with her. But, when she wanted to play she would nip them. Otters have big pointy teeth! Like a bobcat. They started wearing lower leg guards made for snake protection.

When the male arrived from the airport we put him in a tank that was converted into a kennel. He played and was so happy. People could pet him and he was so friendly. A chain link fence divided the tank so each otter was separated. This week they removed the fence for a short time so they could get "acquainted". They had been playing with each other by running along the fence and swimming in the water tank.

Greg filmed their first visit. The first thing the male did was hump her. We think it was his first experience being around a female. She growled and fussed at him. After a few minutes they separated them.

Penny is the mammal handler. Since then when she would go in his side to clean and feed he would start nipping her. Then he reached up and took a huge bite of her inner thigh. She screamed and blood was pouring out. It took a month for the bite to close up and the bruise to fade. The second time she got in wearing a wet suit and he put his mouth on her knee. They told her to stand still. She did and he bit her foot. They thought he was curious about her wetsuit. Now each time she gets in he runs to her, "mounts" her leg and bites her. He won't be distracted from her. Even when feeding him his favorite food: horse meat. She was stuck in the tank today and couldn't get out because his mouth was on her leg. She said she started hyperventilating and freaking out.

I've been upset for her, but I don't think the two head biologists take it seriously enough. They haven't seen it happen. Today she told them she refuses to get in the tank with him. I told her she should tell THEM to get in with the male. Except he doesn't bite men.

We've told her she is the male otter's bitch.