A rare pacific walrus calf has been admitted to the Alaska Sealife Center (ASLC) after workers spotted the young walrus alone on Alaska’s North Slope – a highly unusual location for Pacific walrus.
The Pacific walrus calf, estimated to be about a month old, arrived at ASLC on August 1.“Walrus calves depend on maternal care for their first two years of life, and with no adults in the vicinity, it was apparent that the wayward calf would not survive long without intervention,” the ASLC said.
ASLC staff is currently following a 24-hour care regimen, which is more demanding than many other marine mammals require. Walruses are highly tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during the first two years of life.
“We are lucky that his first night went well,” said ASLC Wildlife Response Curator Jane Belovarac. “It isn’t often that we’re able to admit a walrus calf, but every time we do, we learn more about the species and how to care for them.”
