Walruses in zoo and aquarium settings have extreme aquatic and social needs that make them among the most challenging marine mammals to maintain with good welfare.
Walrus welfare in zoo and aquarium settings presents exceptional challenges: these are large, socially complex Arctic animals whose natural ecology — dense hauling grounds, ice access, and foraging over large seafloor areas — cannot be replicated in captivity. The few facilities that maintain walruses have developed sophisticated husbandry expertise, but the fundamental spatial and thermal constraints of captivity remain significant welfare limitations. Social housing with compatible individuals is non-negotiable for adequate welfare. The extraordinary whisker sensitivity of walruses creates excellent enrichment opportunities through foraging tasks, but also creates challenges in noisy aquarium environments where acoustic welfare must be managed.