Wild Walrus Welfare in a Warming Arctic

Pacific walruses are losing sea ice habitat to climate change, forcing dangerous mass haul-outs on land where thousands of animals crowd together with deadly consequences.

Key Facts

Walruses use sea ice as a resting platform between dives and as pupping habitat
As sea ice retreats, walruses are forced into massive land haul-outs with up to 35,000 individuals
Stampedes at crowded land haul-outs kill hundreds of animals annually, primarily calves
Walruses must swim much farther to feeding grounds without nearby sea ice, increasing energy expenditure
Pacific walrus was listed as a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection due to sea ice loss

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is creating a welfare crisis for walruses at a population scale. Individual walruses experience chronic stress from overcrowding, fatal injuries in stampedes, and nutritional stress from longer foraging trips. Calves separated from mothers in chaotic haul-outs frequently die. The welfare impacts are inseparable from conservation: as sea ice disappears, conditions causing mass suffering will intensify. Addressing walrus welfare requires aggressive climate action alongside targeted protections for critical coastal haul-out sites.

What You Can Do

Support climate advocacy organizations working to reduce Arctic warming
Advocate for protection of critical walrus haul-out sites from disturbance
Reduce personal carbon footprint through dietary and transportation changes
Donate to marine mammal welfare organizations working in the Arctic