Marine Life

Walrus Welfare and Diminishing Sea Ice

Walruses depend on sea ice for resting, nursing pups, and avoiding predators, and its rapid disappearance is creating dangerous welfare situations.

Key Facts

Walrus rely on sea ice as floating platforms for rest and pup-rearing
As ice diminishes they are forced onto overcrowded coastal haul-outs
Stampedes at haul-outs kill hundreds of walrus, especially calves
They must swim increasingly long distances to reach feeding areas
Pacific walrus populations have declined significantly due to ice loss

Welfare Considerations

Walruses experience acute suffering in overcrowded land haul-outs created by sea ice loss. Calves are trampled in panicked stampedes. Extended swimming to feeding grounds exhausts adult females nursing calves. Climate-driven prey shifts mean walrus must dive deeper for food, increasing energy expenditure and physiological stress. This is a direct welfare consequence of global climate change.

What You Can Do

Reduce your carbon footprint to slow Arctic sea ice loss
Support climate advocacy organizations
Donate to walrus and Arctic wildlife research programs
Advocate for strong climate policy at every level of government