Wild Walrus: Climate Change and Haul-Out Welfare

Walruses are iconic Arctic marine mammals whose welfare is increasingly threatened by sea ice loss, forcing dangerous mass haul-outs on land where stampedes and overcrowding cause significant mortality.

Key Facts

Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) number approximately 200,000-250,000; Atlantic walruses are smaller and more fragmented
Walruses traditionally rest on sea ice between foraging dives to the seafloor for clams and other invertebrates
As Arctic sea ice retreats, walruses are forced onto land in massive aggregations of tens of thousands of animals
These terrestrial haul-outs create dangerous crowding: disturbances cause stampedes in which calves and juveniles are trampled
Tusks in both males and females are used for hauling out of water, social dominance, and defence against polar bears
Walruses are highly vocal and social — haul-out groups maintain social bonds and young animals depend on their mothers for up to 2 years
IUCN lists the Pacific walrus as Vulnerable; population trends are difficult to assess due to remote habitat

Welfare Considerations

Walrus welfare is being dramatically affected by climate change. The loss of summer sea ice forces tens of thousands of animals onto land in dense aggregations where normal foraging, resting, and social behaviour is impossible. Stampedes triggered by aircraft, polar bears, or human disturbance cause crushing deaths — primarily of calves. Animals at the margins of haul-outs may fall from steep coastal bluffs attempting to return to the sea. Energetic costs of swimming long distances to offshore foraging areas — replacing ice platforms — increase for all age groups. Calves separated from mothers in crowded haul-outs face starvation. These are not isolated welfare incidents but systemic, recurring harms driven by the acceleration of Arctic climate change.

What You Can Do

Support climate action as the most direct intervention for walrus welfare — sea ice loss is the primary driver
Donate to wildlife monitoring organisations tracking walrus population health and haul-out events
Advocate for buffer zones around known walrus haul-out sites to prevent disturbance-triggered stampedes
Support aviation route management that minimises low-altitude flights over walrus aggregations
Never approach walrus haul-out sites when travelling in the Arctic — disturbance causes fatal stampedes
Reduce seafloor trawling pressure in walrus foraging areas to protect benthic invertebrate prey