Abandoned walrus calf is receiving intensive care from rehabilitation team

Little Miss Walrus. (Photo courtesy of Alaska SeaLife Center)

A Pacific walrus calf, believed to be just a few weeks old, was discovered abandoned on the beaches of Utqiagvik, Alaska, after her herd had left the area. On July 22, 2024, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) found the orphaned calf extremely weak, dehydrated, and with small superficial wounds throughout her body. The ASLC’s Wildlife Response Program then received approval from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (UFWS) to respond to the young walrus.¹

"This one abandoned and rescued walrus calf serves as a vital ambassador for her species, the communities who rely upon them, and the arctic ecosystem. ASLC and our partners are excited to contribute to the broader effort of conserving these magnificent creatures and their ecosystems, including the rich culture and wisdom of the Alaska Native peoples, who have been here since time immemorial," Wei Ying Wong, PhD, ASLC president and CEO, said in a news release.¹

The ASLC is the sole organization permitted to rehabilitate live stranded marine mammals in Alaska. Since the organization’s inception in 1998, it has admitted only 11 Pacific walrus calves to its Wildlife Response Program,^1,2 marking the ASLC’s rehabilitation mission for this calf, named Little Miss Walrus,³ a rare endeavor. Last year, another walrus was admitted to the Wildlife Response Program. The walrus garnered national attention but later died because of irreversible health problems.²

Since the rescue of Little Miss Walrus, the rehabilitative staff has been providing this young animal with round-the-clock intensive care. Caring for Pacific walruses is more demanding and hands-on compared to many other marine mammals, according to the ACSL.² Calves are very social and seek physical comfort from their mothers, staying with them for up to 2 years. Given this, ACSL staff has been acting as surrogate caregivers for the calf. This close contact will habituate Little Miss Walrus to human care, which means she will not be a candidate for release back into the wild.¹

"Walruses are so reliant on their moms for the first 2 years of life, they're likely not going to survive without her. This calf would not have survived much longer without her mom. She now has a second chance at life in human care, and she'll help bring awareness to her species while receiving incredible care,” Halley Werner, Wildlife Response animal care specialist, said in a news release.²

"Caring for an orphaned walrus calf is an incredibly demanding task, requiring unwavering dedication and expertise," said Ying Wong, in the release.¹ "We watch her signs of improvement with cautious optimism and are pleased to be supported by our partners in providing the best possible care for her and all our wildlife response patients."

Since Little Miss Walrus was transported to the ASLC in Seward, Alaska, 5 organizations from across the US have joined forces to provide the calf with rehabilitative care in hopes of giving her a 2nd chance at life, according to a news release. Among those organizations are SeaWorld, based in Orlando, Florida; Indianapolis Zoo in Indiana, and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, which have each sent a staff member to help care for the young walrus and are all accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).¹ Other AZA-accredited organizations are also providing remote support and may offer additional assistance in the coming weeks of care, according to SeaWorld.¹

“Animal conservation is a team effort that requires collaboration and commitment. Answering the call to help with this rescue embodies our mission of protecting nature and inspiring people to care for our world," Robert Shumaker, PhD, president and CEO of Indianapolis Zoo, said in a news release.¹

The calf’s body condition has been improving as she has been steadily gaining weight, with the calf now weighing more than 200 lbs, according to an ASLC Facebook post.^3,4 According to her care team, Little Miss Walrus is doing well overall.³ However, although her wounds are healing, recent bloodwork showed that the calf has “slightly elevated white blood cells,” according to a Facebook post.³ As a result, she will continue to be administered antibiotics and supplements, per the ASLC.

"We are proud to have been able to answer the call to work with our AZA colleagues to care for this precious walrus. Our amazing animal care teams are on call 24/7/365 to help ill, injured or orphaned animals in need of expert care with the goal of rehabilitation," said Chris Dold, DVM, chief zoological officer at SeaWorld, in a news release.¹

References

1. United efforts bring hope to orphaned Pacific walrus calf in Alaska. News release. SeaWorld. August 26, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-efforts-bring-hope-to-orphaned-pacific-walrus-calf-in-alaska-302229850.html
2. The ASLC admits rare patient — an orphaned Pacific walrus calf from Utqiagvik, AK. News release. Alaska SeaLife Center. July 25, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.alaskasealife.org/news_item/189
3. Alaska SeaLife Center Facebook page. Walrus calf update. August 22, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSeaLifeCenter/posts/pfbid02NvMAHnpXTMTNm68YDXF7rFZJXYegQppnMroqtBid3Lnut3ckywEtPtSi8FX7kPkl
4. Alaska SeaLife Center Facebook page. Little Miss Walrus continues to steadily gain weight. August 23, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSeaLifeCenter/posts/pfbid0e3UAs2E2mwB8KeWbztgcuZqnw7WP7sxKHrRFQyYxquboje17BwVLzNX8zgjMGGm3l