A lone walrus said to be no more than a few weeks old, was discovered on an Alaskan beach on Tuesday, prompting rescuers to act swiftly.
According to a spokesman from a wildlife response center, a walrus calf rescued near Alaska’s northernmost city is being treated in a facility hundreds of miles away and is described as “sassy” and attentive.
The orphaned calf was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center on Monday, July 22—a “rare” patient. Since its opening in 1998, the SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Department has taken care of a total of eleven walruses—including only one female.
The 165-pound Pacific walrus, according to Alaska SeaLife Center spokesman Kaiti Grant, arrived at the Seward facility late Monday from Utqiagvik, about 800 miles away. The calf was found to be dehydrated and emaciated during the initial examination. It is unclear what caused the superficial scars on the calf’s body, and nothing is known about the events that led to her being left alone, according to Grant.
Hunters saw a herd of walruses in the vicinity of the beach where the baby was discovered, according to the center, which doubles as an aquarium and research center.
After getting the go-ahead from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the crew at the SeaLife Center helped with the patient’s transportation. The delivery was described as “not an easy task” in the press announcement. To keep the calf stable during its 24-hour journey, SeaLife Center partners introduced fluids through the night.
The Center observed that the calf was alert but underweight and still dehydrated during its initial admission test. Around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, they completed stabilizing treatments and provided emergency fluids.
Walruses have specific requirements, and the first several weeks will likely be pivotal until the team determines that the calf has stabilized. Typically, calves remain with their mothers for two years.
Walruses inhabit the Chukchi and Bering seas. According to the state’s Department of Fish and Game, they are found on sea ice and in the waters surrounding Russian and Alaskan islands.
