Onlookers urged to give walrus spotted in harbour space to rest
Experts believe Arctic creature in mainland harbour was recently seen injured in Orkney
People have been urged to stay away from a walrus which has been spotted in a harbour in north-east Scotland as it rests and recovers its energy.
The Arctic creature is believed to be the same one that was recently seen injured in Orkney and it is now thought to have swum to mainland Scotland.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said that as with previous such visitors from the Arctic, it is likely to be a young animal travelling in unfamiliar waters.
BDMLR medics are on site at the harbour monitoring the walrus and the rescue organisation has urged people to give it space to rest.
The organisation has asked for the precise location of the walrus not to be shared to prevent crowds from gathering.
BDMLR said: “Walruses are occasional visitors to UK shores, with sightings increasing in recent years – thought to be linked to loss of sea ice habitats in the Arctic.
“These animals rely heavily on undisturbed rest to conserve energy during long journeys.
READ MORE: Watchdog moves to tackle 'rotting graveyard' of fish farm waste on secluded Scottish island
“Unfortunately, past incidents have shown that even with management in place, disturbance can and does still occur.
“Crowds, noise, drones and attempts to get closer for photos can cause the animals significant stress, sometimes forcing them back into the water prematurely or preventing them from resting altogether.
“We urge the public to help in giving this animal the space needed to rest, recuperate his energy, and continue their journey safely when ready.”
BDMLR is waiting for the results of photo-identification to confirm whether the walrus is the same one that was spotted in Orkney.
Walruses are protected from disturbance by law and BDMLR said anyone witnessing such an incident should contact police.
Anyone who does see the walrus is advised to remain at least 100 metres away, stay quiet and avoid sudden movement, keep dogs on leads and avoid getting between the creature and the sea.
Walruses, which live for 20 to 30 years, mostly inhabit shallow waters above the continental shelves, spending significant amounts of their lives on sea ice looking for molluscs. They are relatively social and intelligent animals, and are considered a key species of the Arctic marine region.
The walrus has played a prominent role in the cultures of many indigenous Arctic peoples, who have in the past hunted it for meat, fat, skin, tusks, and bone.
During the 19th century and the early 20th century, walrus were widely hunted for their blubber, walrus ivory, leather and meat.
In this time, the walrus population dropped rapidly all around the Arctic region, but has since recovered .
However, populations of Atlantic and Laptev walruses remain fragmented and at low levels compared with the time before human interference.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.