Public advised to give Thor the walrus a wide berth
A MARINE charity is asking the public to keep their distance from a large walrus after it appeared on a beach in Hampshire at the weekend.
The walrus, which has been nicknamed Thor, was sighted on Saturday at Calshot.
Dan Jarvis, director of welfare and conservation at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told The Daily Telegraph the mammal has been travelling around Europe since Nov 6 and has been sighed in the Netherlands, Dieppe and Brittany. He estimates the mammal is not fully grown but could already weigh as much as three quarters of a tonne. Experts have not yet been close enough to determine its gender.
Coastguards have cordoned off part of the beach to keep people away.
Mr Jarvis is concerned the walrus could be at risk from the public. In August a walrus nicknamed Freya that attracted crowds to a fjord in Oslo was euthanised on the grounds that it could pose a threat to public safety. Her death caused an international backlash against Norwegian Fisheries, which made the decision.
“We know walruses embark on long journeys, and often stop for periods of rest, to conserve energy and regain body weight,” Mr Jarvis said.
“Repeated visitors and people trying to get its attention are going to prevent the animal from resting and moving
‘People trying to get its attention are going to prevent the animal from resting and moving on’
on – it needs to be left alone to have a better chance of surviving.”
Walruses are “bottom feeders”, eating a variety of razor clams, mussels and other shell fish found on the seabed.
The mammals, which can live for up to 40 years, are facing increased threat from climate change.
“The melting ice and warmer waters have forced them on land which makes them vulnerable to polar bears and hunting,” said Mr Jarvis.