This walrus province is flippin’ huge!
Researchers have found an incredibly gigantic group of the tusked animals in northern Russia — where their territory is in danger, new film shows.
More than 3,000 walruses were found on shore a month ago in Russia’s Yamal landmass, where walrus populaces recently plunged because of dissolving ice and oil boring.
The sea shore based walrus halout — where the ocean animals go to mate and mingle — is strange in light of the fact that walruses by and large variety on islands or floating pieces of ocean ice, researchers said.
“This haulout is remarkable in light of the fact that there are both female and male walruses, just as calves of various age,” said Aleksander Sokolov, a senior Arctic analyst at Russia’s Academy of Sciences.
The species was recorded as “almost undermined” in 2016 to a great extent because of environmental change and oil and gas penetrating in the territory.
However, Andrei Boltunov, from the Marine Mammal Research and Expedition Center, said the revelation could be an indication that their populace is recuperating.
“We need to accept that it’s a positive sign,” he said.
Researchers took DNA tests from walruses in the group and fitted some with satellite labels to screen their developments.