JUNEAU, Alaska — A walrus calf abandoned by her herd near Alaska’s northernmost city is alert and “sassy” as she receives care at a wildlife nonprofit hundreds of miles away following her recent rescue, a spokesperson for the center said Thursday.
Alaska SeaLife Center spokeswoman Kaiti Grant said the nearly 160-pound, crumpled Pacific walrus arrived at the center in Seward late Monday night from Utqiagvik, about 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) away. An initial examination showed the calf, believed to be a few weeks old, was malnourished and dehydrated. The calf also had superficial wounds on her body, but it was unclear what caused them, and little is known about the circumstances that led to her being abandoned, Grant said.
According to the center, which is also a public aquarium and research facility, hunters reported that a herd of walruses had recently been on the beach where the calf was found.
The calf arrived in the middle almost a year after it was recorded a 200-pound (90 kilogram) male calf found alone and miles from the ocean on Alaska’s North Slope. That baby, who struggled with health issues including poor nutrient absorption and other complications, died later.
Grant called the loss of the calf last year devastating, but said staff was cautiously hopeful about their new patient, who is still undergoing tests and is only the 11th walrus the center has cared for in its 26-year history. The calf has gone to a bottle pit, Grant said.
However, she said the animals have special needs and the first few weeks will likely be a crucial phase until staff know the calf is stable.
Because walrus calves seek comfort in contact with their mothers, the center’s staff gives them 24-hour attention.
Calves typically stay with their mothers for two years.
Pacific walruses live in the Bering and Chukchi seas, resting on sea ice and along the coasts and islands of Alaska and Russia, according to the state Department of Fish and Game.
