Orphaned Weeks-Old Walrus is Getting Round-the-Clock Care to Help Her Survive
Michelle Milliken
Pacific walruses can grow up to 12 feet long and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. One substantially smaller than that, though, was just rescued in Alaska.
In a series of social media posts, Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward has been chronicling the care of a tiny orphaned female Pacific walrus calf. She was found alone, malnourished, and dehydrated in Utqiagvik, Alaska, in late July and is believed to be no more than a few weeks old.
To help her survive, a rescue team provided emergency fluids and stabilizing treatment before getting her to safety. That safe journey involved transport - including a lengthy van ride – to Seward. The aquarium says timely and hands-on treatment is critical at this stage of her young life.
They wrote, “Walrus calves require 24-hour care with a more demanding and hands-on care regimen than for many other marine mammals.”
In an initial video, they said they’ll have at least two people on each shift. The care involves feeding the calf a whopping 1.2 liters of walrus formula eight times a day. It may just be worth it for all the entertainment, though, as an update in the days following her rescue said she was “sassier than ever.” She also has a lot to say, if you check out the video below. Pacific walruses can be very vocal, barking, grunting, whistling, and roaring, with the calf providing a selection of the songs of her people each day.
Even in the wild, Pacific walruses are highly social and spend their time in large groups. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the bond is especially strong between mother and calf, who stay together for about two years. That’s one of the reasons care for this calf needs to be so extensive.
The SeaLife Center says, “Because calves are highly social and seek comfort through physical contact with their mothers, staff act as surrogates, sitting with them around the clock. This also means that the calf will habituate to human care, and will not be a candidate for release back into the wild.”
If you’d like to follow this calf’s care as she works to recover, follow the Alaska SeaLife Center on Facebook.
