It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. Two hunters strolling along a beach in Utqiagvik, AK., stumbled upon a surprising sight: an injured walrus calf struggling on the cold sand. This was unexpected because walrus mothers are incredibly protective, often cuddling their pups like humans and rarely leaving them alone for the first few years of life.

The 165-pound calf, covered in scrapes and severely dehydrated, was in urgent need of help. The hunters immediately contacted wildlife authorities, who quickly arranged to transport the calf 800 miles to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK.

This walrus calf was estimated to be about 1 or 2 weeks old when she was found abandoned on a beach in northern Alaska. Photo by Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

According to Carrie Goertz, the center’s director of animal health, the calf was a female and only a week or two old. She was badly malnourished, with a Pacific walrus herd previously spotted on the beach, suggesting the pup may have been abandoned or separated from her mother. Without her mother’s protection and high-fat milk, survival on the beach was unlikely.

She had lots of cuts and abrasions,” Goertz said. “It’s hard to know exactly what happened. The cuts could be from other animals or possibly from the rocks on the beach.”

Rescue workers acted swiftly, recalling a similar case from the previous year when another orphaned walrus calf was found far from the ocean. Despite intensive care, that calf succumbed to complications from malnutrition. This time, however, the team was hopeful for a better outcome.

Since arriving at the Alaska SeaLife Center, the calf — still unnamed — has made significant progress. She now weighs nearly 210 pounds, enjoys snuggling with her caretakers, and drinks formula from a bottle every four hours. Her abrasions have mostly healed, though she still requires round-the-clock care to simulate maternal bonding, staff said.

This walrus calf. Photo by Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Experts from SeaWorld, the Indianapolis Zoo, and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are contributing to her care. “This is definitely a team effort,” Goertz said. “Everyone finds it very rewarding to care for her — she’s very tactile and affectionate, kind of like a ginormous puppy.”

Denise Higginbotham, a zoological specialist from SeaWorld, praised the calf’s spirited nature. “She was sassy, which is what we like to see. It’s overwhelming how cute she is. She warmed up immediately to anyone who cozied up next to her,” Higginbotham said.

Young walruses are social animals that rely on physical contact with their mothers and the warmth of sea ice in the wild. With the loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming being a significant threat, the calf’s rehabilitation is crucial. The Alaska SeaLife Center has cared for only 11 walrus calves since its opening in 1998.

While the goal is to rehabilitate her, it’s unlikely the calf will be released into the wild due to her habituation to human care. Instead, she may be sent to a wildlife center or zoo in the U.S. to serve as an ambassador for her species.

“We don’t have a name for her yet, but we’re working on that,” Goertz said. “It’s been a pleasure to care for her. Watching her drink a whole bottle and then nap is really satisfying.” The story of this resilient walrus calf is an important reminder of the challenges facing Pacific walruses and their icy habitats.

Sources: Washington Post | Fox 13