WalrusOdobenus rosmarusKde a kdy je můžete spatřit

The walrus is a large Arctic pinniped distinguished by elongated canine tusks and a dense moustache of sensitive whiskers. Both sexes carry tusks, although males are generally larger and more heavily built. Atlantic and Pacific populations occupy different parts of the polar seas. Their dependence on productive shallow seabeds and resting platforms links their lives closely to coastal geography, sea ice and the increasing pressures associated with Arctic warming.

Size

2.2–3.6 m total length

Weight

600–1,700 kg

Lifespan

30–40 years

Status

Vulnerable

Walruses gather in closely packed groups on ice or beaches, resting in prolonged bouts between feeding trips. Contact calls, body movements and tusk displays help regulate crowded social interactions. Mothers maintain close relationships with calves, which can nurse for more than a year. A startled group may rush toward the water, putting smaller animals at risk, so apparently sleepy haulouts require especially quiet, distant observation from visitors and passing vessels. The deep vocalizations of walruses, including bell-like calls and roars, are crucial for communication, especially during breeding season. Dominant males often display their tusks and engage in pushing contests for social hierarchy and mating access.

• Both male and female walruses grow tusks.
• Their scientific name refers to walking with teeth.
• Facial whiskers can locate buried prey in murky water.
• Males possess throat air sacs used in sound production and buoyancy.

For shore and deck observation in the European Arctic, June to September generally offers more daylight and navigable coastal routes. Haulout use varies with ice, weather and disturbance. Other Arctic regions have different access windows, so local conditions matter more than a universal season. In Svalbard, walruses are often seen from expedition vessels and zodiacs during the summer months when the ice edge recedes. Peak walrus viewing often coincides with calving season for reindeer or migratory bird breeding, offering diverse wildlife experiences.

Walruses favour shallow Arctic shelf seas where bottom-dwelling prey is accessible and nearby ice or land provides resting space. Coastal haulouts include gravel beaches, low islands and rocky shores. Distribution shifts with ice conditions, food availability and human disturbance. Walruses also use large, stable ice floes as resting platforms, especially when migrating. They are particularly sensitive to noise and human presence, which can lead to haulout abandonment or stampedes.

Their diet consists chiefly of seabed invertebrates, especially clams, located using highly sensitive facial whiskers. Powerful suction extracts soft tissues from shells. Worms, snails and other animals are also eaten, while some individuals take seals or scavenge marine mammal remains. In some areas, walruses have been observed preying on seabirds, including eiders, though this is less common. Their powerful tusks can also be used to rake the seafloor, dislodging benthic organisms from the substrate.

Common name

Walrus

Scientific name

Odobenus rosmarus

Animal group

Mammals

Size

2.2–3.6 m total length

Weight

600–1,700 kg

Lifespan

30–40 years

Status

Vulnerable

Identification

Long paired tusks, broad whiskered muzzles and bulky bodies distinguish adult walruses from all Arctic seals. Male walruses typically have thicker, longer tusks that are more widely spaced at the base compared to females. Calves are born dark brown and gradually lighten in colour, often appearing more yellowish-brown as they age.