Rescuers responded Tuesday after a walrus, believed to be only a few weeks old or less, was spotted alone on an Alaskan beach.
Walruses are heavily dependent on their mothers for the first two years of their lives, so the newborn likely wouldn’t have survived long after being left alone, according to the Alaska SeaLife Center. It was malnourished and dehydrated when the team arrived Tuesday.
“She now has a second chance at life in human care, and she will help raise awareness for her species while receiving incredible care,” wildlife care specialist Halley Werner said in a news release.
Kaiti Scholarship | Alaska SeaLife Center
The 165-pound calf was found on a beach in Utqiagvik, a town in northern Alaska. A herd had recently left the area, leading rescuers to believe the calf had been left to fend for itself.
Rescuers gave the calf emergency fluids and stabilization treatments. The Alaska SeaLife Center has at least two people working shifts, either staying with the calf, preparing food, cleaning or caring for the other animals.
“There’s going to be a lot of weird sleep ahead, but that’s okay. We’re doing this for the animals,” said Jessica Davis, a veterinary technician. “We want to give back and set them up for success. It’s all part of the work we love.”
Walrus rescues are rare. SeaLife Alaska’s Wildlife Response Division has assisted only 11 since the organization was founded in 1998. The care program is intense; walrus calves are highly social and seek comfort from their mothers. Rescue team members act as surrogates, providing physical contact with the newborn.
Kaiti Scholarship | Alaska SeaLife Center
According to the center, the rescued walrus will become accustomed to human care and will not be a candidate for release into the wild.
Last year, a baby walrus rescued who received cuddles “24 hours a day” as part of his treatment has died. The calf had been exposed to hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal problems.
Pacific walruses live in the Bering and Chukchi seas, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Both males and females have ivory tusks. They also have hundreds of short, strong, highly sensitive whiskers that they use to search for food. Adult females can weigh more than a ton, while adult males can weigh up to two tons.
According to the Marine Mammal Commission, polar bears and orcas are the species’ only natural predators. The species is also threatened by shrinking sea ice. Orcas use the ice as a resting platform between foraging trips.
“With less sea ice, walruses will likely spend more time at coastal haulouts along the Russian and Alaskan coasts, where feeding movements may be limited to nearby feeding areas,” according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “Calves and yearlings suffer increased mortality at land-based haulouts when disturbances cause the herd to panic and rush toward the water, crushing and overwhelming smaller animals.”
