Where the walrus and seal live. Walrus animal

Walrus - the great Arctic giant. When he is not resting on the ice, he spends his time cutting holes in the ice with his long fangs. Through them he obtains food for himself - bivalve mollusks.

External structure

A large sea animal with very thick skin. The upper canines are extremely developed, elongated and directed downwards. The very wide muzzle is lined with numerous thick, hard, flattened whisker bristles (vibrissae); a walrus can have from 400 to 700 of them on the upper lip, arranged in 13-18 rows. There are no external ears, the eyes are small.
The skin is covered with short, adjacent yellow-brown hair, but with age there is less hair, and old walruses have almost completely bare skin. The limbs are more adapted for movement on land than those of true seals, and walruses can walk rather than crawl; soles are calloused. The tail is rudimentary.

Anatomy of a walrus

A walrus uses its tusks to stay on the edge of an ice hole.

Skeleton

Although some Pacific males can weigh up to 2000 kg, most weigh between 800 and 1700 kg. The Atlantic subspecies weighs 10-20% less. Atlantic walruses also tend to have relatively short tusks and a somewhat flatter muzzle. Some males of the Pacific subspecies were much larger than normal. Females weigh about a third less, Atlantic females on average 560 kg, sometimes weighing only 400 kg, and Pacific females on average 794 kg with a length of 2.2 to 3.6 m. The incisors of the upper jaw are small or completely reduced, in the lower jaw there are no incisors. The testes are hidden under the skin-fat layer and are not located in the scrotum. Walruses usually have 2 pairs of mammary glands, sometimes more, and it is not uncommon to have 5 nipples (source not specified 281 days). Thus, out of 7 walruses of the Pacific and Atlantic subspecies, which are kept in the zoo of Udmurtia and in Harderwijk, the Netherlands (Dolfinarium Harderwijk), three have five teats each. Males have paired air sacs without closing valves, formed by a protrusion of the upper esophagus. The bags inflate under the skin of the neck, turning upward, and allow the walrus to float vertically in the water during sleep.

Tusks

The most characteristic feature of the walrus is its long tusks. These are elongated fangs that are present in both sexes and can reach a length of 1 m and weigh up to 5.4 kg. The tusks are slightly longer and thicker on males, who use them for fighting. Males with the largest tusks usually dominate the social group. The tusks are also used to form and support holes in the ice and help walruses climb out of the water onto the ice.

Leather

The skin of walruses is very wrinkled and thick, up to 10 cm on the neck and shoulders of males. The fat layer is up to 15 cm. Young walruses have a dark brown skin color, and as they grow older they lighten and become pale. Old males turn almost pink. Because the blood vessels in the skin constrict in cold water, walruses can turn almost white when swimming. Secondary sexual characteristics for males (in natural conditions) are characterized by growths on the skin of the neck, chest and shoulders.

Subspecies

There are two or three subspecies of walrus:

— Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens ILLIGER, 1811)

— Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus LINNAEUS, 1758)

A third subspecies is often isolated from the Pacific subspecies.

- Laptev walrus (Odobenus rosmarus laptevi CHAPSKII, 1940)

But his independence is questioned by many. The Laptev population is included in the Red Book of Russia as a separate subspecies. According to the IUCN, based on the results of recent studies of mitochondrial DNA and the study of morphometric data, it is necessary to abandon the consideration of the Laptev walrus as an independent subspecies, recognizing it as the westernmost population of the Pacific walrus.

Distribution and populations

The latest estimate, based on a global census conducted in 1990, places the current population of the Pacific walrus at approximately 200,000 individuals. The majority of the Pacific walrus population spends the summer north of the Bering Strait, in the Chukchi Sea along the northern coast of eastern Siberia, near Wrangel Island, in the Beaufort Sea along the northern coast of Alaska, and is also found in waters between these locations. A small number of males are found in summer in the Gulf of Anadyr, on the southern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula in Siberia, and also in Bristol Bay. In spring and autumn they concentrate from the western coast of Alaska to the Gulf of Anadyr. They winter in the southern parts of the Bering Sea, along the eastern coast of Siberia south to the northern Kamchatka Peninsula, and along the southern coast of Alaska. The 28,000-year-old fossilized remains of a walrus were found near San Francisco Bay, showing the walrus' distribution as far north as the coast of northern California during the last Ice Age.
The Atlantic walrus has been nearly extirpated by uncontrolled commercial fishing, and its population is significantly lower. It is currently difficult to accurately estimate the number, but it probably does not exceed 20 thousand individuals. This population is distributed from Arctic Canada, Greenland, Spitsbergen, and also in the western region of the Russian Arctic. Based on the vast geographic distribution and movement data, there are eight subpopulations of the Atlantic walrus, five in the west and three in the east of Greenland. The Atlantic walrus formerly occupied a range extending south to Cape Cod and was found in large numbers in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In April 2006, the northwestern Atlantic walrus population was listed as nearly extinct in Canada by the Canadian Species at Risk Act (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador).
The isolated Laptev walrus population is localized throughout the year in the central and western regions of the Laptev Sea, in the easternmost region of the Kara Sea, and in the westernmost part of the East Siberian Sea. The current number is estimated at 5-10 thousand individuals.

Behavior

Laptev walrus - these huge, clumsy animals on land that inhabit the Far North, live mainly near the coast and rarely undertake significant travel. Walruses are sociable and are mostly found in herds; courageously protect each other: in general, walruses in the water are dangerous opponents, as they can capsize or break a boat with their tusks. They themselves rarely attack boats. The herd always posts sentries. Walruses have a well-developed sense of smell, and they sense a person at a considerable distance, so they try to approach them against the wind. Noticing the danger, the sentry roars (which in walruses is something between the mooing of a cow and a rude bark) or jolts wakes up the others, the animals rush into the sea, almost simultaneously go under the water and can stay there without air for up to 10 minutes. The walrus' food consists mainly of elasmobranchs and other benthic invertebrates; walruses sometimes eat fish. In some cases, walruses may attack seals or eat carrion. They keep in groups, females live separately. Walrus cubs are born once every three to four years. Their mother feeds them milk for up to a year; young walruses begin to eat other food at 6 months. They stay with their mother until they are two or three years old. All members of the walrus herd protect the walruses and help them when necessary. If, for example, one of the cubs gets tired of swimming, then it costs him nothing to climb onto the back of one of the adults to rest there peacefully. In general, mutual support and assistance are characteristic of walruses to a very large extent.
There is an opinion that the huge fangs serve mainly for digging out the said mollusks at the bottom, as well as for protection. Also, based on observations of the nature of wear of tusks and the abrasion of vibrissae on the face of walruses, it was suggested that walruses most likely dig the ground not with their tusks, but with the upper edge of their snout, while the tusks play a mainly social role, since they are used in establishing hierarchical relationships and when demonstrating a threat. In addition, they can be used to make and support holes in ice and to “anchor” to the ice to prevent slipping in strong winds or currents. Observations of walruses in zoos and similar institutions have shown that they often use their tusks in fights among themselves, especially during the mating period. Thanks to the fact that walruses use their tusks to help themselves climb onto ice floes or rocky shores, they received their generic name: “odobenus” in Greek means “walking with teeth” or “walking on teeth.”

Enemies of Walruses

Commercial hunting of walruses is currently prohibited by law in all countries where it is common, despite this, to a limited extent, fishing is allowed to indigenous peoples, whose existence is closely connected with the hunting of this species. Among them are the Chukchi and Eskimos.
Walrus hunting takes place towards the end of summer. Traditionally, all parts of the harvested walrus are used. The meat is often canned and is an important source of protein during the long winter. Fins are fermented and stored as a delicacy until spring. Fangs and bones have historically been used as tools, as well as as ornamental materials. Melted lard is used for heating and lighting. The durable hide is used as rope and for building shelters, as well as for covering boats. Waterproof capes are made from the intestines and stomach. While modern technology has replaced many aspects of walrus use, walrus meat remains an essential part of the indigenous diet, just as tusk crafts form an important part of folklore for many communities.
Walrus hunting is regulated by environmental and resource organizations in Russia, the United States, Canada and Denmark, as well as representatives of hunting communities. It is estimated that between four and seven thousand Pacific walruses are hunted in Alaska and Russia, including a significant proportion (about 42%) of animals injured or lost during hunting. Several hundred individuals are seized annually near Greenland. The impact of this level of fishing on the population is difficult to assess because the population size is currently not well established. However, such important parameters as fertility and mortality rates are unknown.
The impact of global climate change on the walrus population is another factor to consider. In particular, the reduction in the extent and thickness of pack ice has been well documented. It is on this ice that walruses form rookeries during the reproductive period for birth and mating. As a hypothesis, it is hypothesized that decreasing pack ice thickness in the Bering Sea has led to a reduction in suitable resting areas near optimal feeding areas. As a result, the duration of the mother's absence from the nurse increases, which ultimately leads to nutritional stress or a decrease in the reproductive contribution of females. However, scientists still have little data, which makes it difficult to make a reliable conclusion about the impact of climate change on population trends.
The IUCN list currently lists the walrus as Data Insufficient. The Atlantic and Laptev subspecies living in Russia are included in the Red Book of Russia and classified as category 2 (declining in numbers) and category 3 (rare), respectively. Trade in crafts made from walrus tusks and bones is regulated by the international convention CITES, Appendix 3. The legislation of the Russian Federation regulates the distribution of trophy products among indigenous residents completely free of charge and only for personal use. Currently, commercial hunting of walruses is prohibited in all countries.

Interesting Facts

Walrus baculum processed by Aleuts. Length 56 cm.
— The walrus’ baculum (the bone contained in the penis) is about 50 cm long. Both in terms of the absolute length of the baculum and relative to body length, the walrus confidently holds the record among mammals. This is where the curse word “walrus horseradish” came from.
— Swimming in an ice hole in winter is called winter swimming.

STATUS: endangered

Atlantic walrus- a sea giant that lives in the northern seas. The animal's large body with thick skin is covered with wrinkles and folds. Both males and females have tusks, but males have longer ones. Young walruses have quite thick hair. Adults have virtually no hair. The length of males reaches 3.5 m, weight - up to 900 kg. The length of females is up to 2.4 m, weight - up to 800 kg. A newborn cub is 1.2 m in length and about 70 kg in weight. The lifespan of walruses is 25-30 years. Despite the impressive size of the walrus, according to scientists, it is one of the most vulnerable inhabitants of the Russian Arctic.

The main threats to the Atlantic walrus are:

• melting ice due to climate change;
• ocean pollution;
• disturbance factor (passage of sea vessels and tourists visiting rookeries);
• development of the Arctic shelf by oil and gas companies (increasing risks of oil spills)

Atlantic walrus. Franz Josef Land © Yuri Lebedev WWF Russia

Atlantic walrus on the island. Spitsbergen, Norway © Mikhail Cherkasov

Walruses near o. Vaigach © Anton Taibarei

Atlantic walrus. Laptev Sea © Alexey Ebel

What is WWF doing to preserve the walrus population?

Thanks to the efforts of WWF and our partners, it was possible to estimate the number of the most vulnerable group of walruses in the Pechora Sea, identify key habitats of Atlantic walruses, study their food supply, obtain unique information about walrus migrations and assess the health of the animals.

WWF takes an active part in the study and conservation of the walrus:

• In summer, ground observations are carried out at the rookeries and camera traps are installed.
• Satellite tags are used to track walrus movements throughout the year.
• Aerial photography and satellite images help study walruses in areas that are difficult to reach.
• Biological material is being collected and analyzed - this makes it possible to determine the health of the population and the level of contamination in the tissues of walruses, as well as to assess the genetic connections between different groups of walruses.
• At the initiative of WWF, some oil and gas companies are already pursuing a responsible policy towards walruses and other marine mammals - they conduct observations, reduce speed, or change the course of vessels when encountering marine mammals, and, if necessary, even stop operating air guns (during shelf exploration).
• Rules of conduct for tourists at walrus rookeries in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug have been developed and adopted.

However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about walruses - for example, the “ice period” of walrus life remains uncovered, as well as the northern group of walruses (Franz Josef Land and walruses north of Novaya Zemlya), which are difficult to study. Of particular concern are plans to increase cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route - up to 80 million tons (10 times) by 2024, and the constant increase in the number of tourists wishing to visit walrus rookeries.

Interesting facts about Atlantic walruses

Up to 80 m- the walrus dives to such depths in search of food.

15 months- the pregnancy of a female walrus lasts.

34-38 cm- this is the length the tusks of an adult walrus reach.

And Atlantic walruses are unique because...

• “Walrus” translated from ancient Greek means “walking on teeth.” To get out of the water, the walrus clings to the hard surface of the ice with its tusks.
• Walruses can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes. Then they must come to the surface to take a breath.
• When exposed to sunlight, the skin of walruses turns pink. (This is the effect of dilation of blood vessels.)

Habitat of Atlantic walruses

The Atlantic walrus in Russian waters inhabits the northern Barents Sea (Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land), the Novaya Zemlya region, the northern part of the White Sea, the southeastern part of the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea.

2. In Latin, the name of the walrus – Odobenus rosmarus – can be translated as “sea horse walking with the help of its teeth.” When a walrus uses its prominent tusks to pull its heavy body out of the water onto an ice floe, it looks as if it is "walking" with its tusks, hence the name.

3. Fossilized remains of a walrus dating back 28,000 years have been discovered in San Francisco Bay, indicating that walruses were once common much further south in the Pacific Ocean during the last Ice Age.

4. There are two large subspecies of walruses: Pacific and Atlantic.

5. Despite its terrifying appearance and long protruding fangs, the walrus is largely a calm and non-aggressive mammal.

Male walrus

6. Males are larger and more massive than females. Their weight is on average 1,700 kg; individual individuals can reach two tons.

7. Among pinnipeds, walruses are second only to elephant seals.

8. Walrus flippers are very flexible and resemble hands with 5 fingers.

9. Walruses are able to slow their heart rate to withstand the low temperatures of icy waters.

10. Walruses have a wide head, small eyes and are easily recognized by their two protruding tusks. Moreover, both males and females have tusks.

Female walrus

11. Females are one-third smaller than males; their weight can reach up to 1,200 kg.

12. These huge animals feed mainly on small inhabitants of the deep sea - mollusks, small fish, crustaceans. In times of hunger, they can also eat carrion. They have practically no teeth, so they “suck” their prey or grind it with their jaws in the mouth.

13. Walrus whiskers are not hair at all, but whiskers - extremely sensitive tactile organs, somewhat reminiscent of a cat's whiskers. With the help of vibrises, walruses, first of all, look for food: mollusks, snails, sea worms and other marine trifles.

14. All walruses have large and long fangs, they are called tusks, these are modified upper teeth. The length of the fangs is on average one meter in an adult.

15. The main function of tusks is for defense and attack. In addition, walruses can use their tusks to crush ice and cling to ice floes or rocks, helping themselves to the surface.

16. Walruses have only two natural enemies: killer whale and polar bear. These predators mainly hunt walrus calves.

17. Within the walrus population, fights between males for leadership are commonplace. Tusks play a major role in battles. Whoever has them stronger and longer will win.

18. On land, walruses try to stay in large groups - from 10 to several thousand individuals.

19. Walruses love to be in the company of their own kind. However, there are also those who want to be alone with themselves. Then they can take some kind of “ice” at hand, climb on it and swim across the ocean like that.

20. Walruses can spend up to half an hour underwater without breathing fresh air.

21. Females begin to give birth at the age of 7-8 years and usually give birth to only one cub every 3 years.

22. Pregnancy lasts 15 months, and after birth the baby requires the mother's help for another 2 years.

23. Young walruses have a dark brown color, however, with age, the skin color pales and can become almost pink in old age.

24. Walruses can sleep and swim at the same time. In the cervical region they have air sacs, thanks to which they can combine these two processes.

25. A very thick layer of subcutaneous fat - 20 centimeters on the shoulders and withers of an adult walrus helps to survive at low temperatures.

26. Walruses require shallow waters of ice shelves and icy arctic and subarctic waters to live.

27.The largest population of walruses lives in the Pacific Ocean. They spend the summer in northern Alaska and the winter off the Russian coast.

28. Another population of walruses, much smaller, is found in the Canadian Arctic.

29. In the wild, walruses live about 35 - 40 years.

30. During sea bathing in icy water, the skin of a walrus lightens to a white color, as the blood vessels in the skin layer contract under the influence of low temperature.

31. Favorable habitat for walruses is shallow Arctic and subarctic waters. The population lives in large groups, gathering in huge rookeries.

32. When located at a rookery, walruses “appoint” guards. When danger appears, the watchman notifies the flock with a loud guttural cry, which quickly goes out to sea.

33. Walruses spend most of the summer time on the shore, turning over in the sun from side to side.

34. After several hours of sunbathing, the skin of walruses turns pink - this is the effect of dilation of blood vessels.

35.In winter and early spring they live on huge ice floes.

36. Walruses are protected from hypothermia by a thick subcutaneous layer of fat. The layer can reach 15 cm in thickness and constitute up to 25% of the total mass of the animal.

37. Climate change is expected to have a major negative impact on walrus populations, especially those living in the Pacific Ocean. If the ice becomes thinner and begins to disappear, the walruses have less room to rest and have to swim more.

38.Researchers are working on projects to study the behavior of walruses in the face of climate change in the hope of learning more about their reactions and how they can be helped.

39. Another problem for the future of walruses is that they have a fairly long gap between generations - 21 years.

40. The walrus is the absolute record holder for the length of the baculum among other animals. The baculum is a bone in the penis, and in a walrus it can reach 60 centimeters.

41. The walrus is a very flexible animal - it can scratch its neck with its back flippers.

42. Walrus skin usually makes up about 20 percent of their total body weight. Under the skin there is a layer of fat about 15 centimeters thick, which allows the animals to retain heat in icy water.

44. Walruses that are frightened or protecting their offspring can pierce or overturn a small boat with their tusks.

45. Walrus whiskers are not hair, but very sensitive tactile organs, somewhat reminiscent of a cat's whiskers. Animals use them to search for food underwater.

46. ​​These animals are quite well adapted to survive in extreme natural conditions, but they are quite clumsy and defenseless in front of people. Hunting and conquest of the areas in which these animals lived led to a decrease in their population.

47. Walrus hunting was banned in Canada in the 1930s and in the United States in the 1940s. Although the global walrus population is still quite large, it is believed to be in constant decline. According to some estimates, there are about 250 thousand walruses living on the planet.

48. Unfortunately, walruses have been the object of hunting since ancient times. Skins, tusks, fat and other parts of the mammal’s body were used in farming by residents of the Far North.

49. Melting ice, pollution of the coastal zone and waters, and emergency oil spills have a catastrophic impact on the walrus population.

50.Today, walruses (Atlantic subspecies) are listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species.

Grade 2 can briefly present a report on walruses in class. Message about walruses for children will tell you a lot of useful information about representatives of pinnipeds.

Message about the walrus

Where do walruses live?

Walruses are representatives of the order Pinnipeds. They live in Arctic open waters, going out onto the ice to rest and gain oxygen. Animals swim beautifully and can dive.

Walrus: brief description

Body length in males is 3-4 m, in females up to 3.2 m; The weight of an adult varies between 800 kg and 1.5 tons. This animal is large and heavy. His skin is brown and covered with folds. A thick subcutaneous layer of fat protects from severe frosts.

The head, compared to the body, is small. There are no external ears. There are numerous long whiskers on the muzzle. The giant has small eyes and poor vision. The sense of smell is well developed. The walrus' limbs are represented by flippers, with the hind limbs bending at the heel joint. This allows animals to move on land.

The giant's skin is covered with sparse hair. Their distinctive feature is the presence of a fang-tusk, which reaches 100 cm with a weight of up to 5 kg each. With their tusks, walruses dig at the bottom of reservoirs in order to obtain shellfish, and with the help of their tusks, they climb onto slippery ice and fight to protect themselves, their territory or offspring.

It is noteworthy that walruses do not swim far into the open sea. They try to stick to the shore. Animals from time to time go out onto the ice not only to rest, but also to replenish the supply of oxygen in their muscles and tissues. These pinnipeds cannot spend long periods of time in water. When the ice floes melt, the sea giants come to land. They can be under water for up to 10 minutes. Able to sleep in water, having filled the internal air bags with a lot of air. Rocking on the waves in a vertical position, sea creatures sleep as if in a cradle.

What does a walrus eat?

Animals feed on fish, crustaceans and mollusks. An adult eats up to 80 kg of food per day. Some lead a predatory lifestyle and prefer to feast on seals and birds.

Walrus breeding

Walruses give birth once every three years. Pregnancy lasts 370 days. In the spring, one baby is born with a weight of 60 kg and a body length of 1 m. He is always under the supervision of his mother. They even hunt together. At the rookery, the cub climbs onto its mother’s back so that it is not crushed by its neighbors. Babies feed on mother's milk for about a year. After their fangs grow, the young individual can obtain food for itself.

Enemies of walruses in the wild

Walruses have practically no enemies. Rarely, animals can be attacked by a polar bear. And only in case of severe hunger. Polar bears hunt walrus cubs, which the females come to protect, surrounding the babies in a tight ring. In the water, the main enemy of the giants are killer whales.

How long do walruses live?

In their natural habitat, walruses live for about 35-45 years. Animals are listed in the Red Book.

Walrus: interesting facts

• Baby walruses are born toothless.
• After prolonged exposure to the sun, the skin of animals becomes pink in color, as the blood vessels greatly dilate. But in cold water they decrease and the skin becomes almost white.
• Walruses are very friendly and sociable.
• The animal's stomach is very large. The peoples of the north made waterproof capes for themselves from it.

We hope that a short message + about the walrus helped you prepare for the lesson, and you learned a lot of useful information about these sea animals. You can leave your short story about walruses using the comment form below.

The diversity of animals on planet Earth is truly amazing. The Atlantic walrus is the most recognizable pinniped. It is the largest after the elephant seal. Thanks to the huge fangs on its mouth, the walrus is familiar to every person. In this article we will tell you in detail about the life of these amazing animals.

A little information

The Atlantic walrus is an animal, a mammal. It is a mistake to consider it a fish. Scientists distinguish three subspecies of walruses:

1. Laptevsky.
2. Pacific.
3. Atlantic.

The third and first species are endangered animals and are listed in the Red Book. Fishing is allowed for the second species. It is available only to the indigenous peoples of the North. The exact number of individuals is difficult to calculate. So far, scientists agree on the following indicators:

But these are conditional figures. It is not poachers that pose a serious threat to walrus numbers, but climate change. Melting ice is depriving them of their habitat and mating places.

Where does the walrus live?

In the study of any animal species, determining the habitat plays an important role. Where do walruses live? - in the area of ​​the Arctic seas, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In winter, they live on icebergs that drift through the water. In summer they come out onto land. In the off-season they can be found between Chukotka and Alaska, and in summer in warmer waters. Atlantic walruses can be found in the western Arctic and eastern Canada. Due to poachers, the number of individuals decreases every year.

A little about nutrition

They need to eat almost all day. The basis of their diet is bottom-dwelling mollusks. They are easy to get - the walrus stirs up the muddy bottom with its long tusks, as a result of which the water is filled with hundreds of small shells. Here the walrus grabs them in his flippers and rubs them with powerful movements. After which the fragments of shells fall to the bottom, the mollusks remain on the surface of the water. So the walrus eats them. Worms and crustaceans are also eaten.

But animals do not like fish and rarely eat it, only when there are serious problems with food. Thick-skinned giants do not disdain carrion. Scientists have recorded cases of walrus attacks on narwhals and seals.

Animals need the entire diet not only to maintain the vital functions of the body, but also to build up subcutaneous fat. Its layer reaches 10 cm. It is due to this that the walrus swims and does not suffer from hypothermia.

Features of behavior

Representatives of this species of pinnipeds live in a herd. It is interesting that living collectively, individuals actively help each other and protect weak individuals from attack. When the bulk of the animals are sleeping or resting, sentries monitor the safety of the herd. When danger approaches, they begin to deafen the area with their roar. Despite the apparent slowness and inability to adapt to life, walruses:

• Excellent hearing. During observations of pinnipeds, scientists discovered that the female can hear her cub two kilometers away.
• They have a wonderful sense of smell, they sense a person well.
• Unperturbed, but thanks to their anatomy everyone sees perfectly.
• Excellent swimmers.
• Rarely attack first, but they can sink the boat.

The main threat comes not only from humans. Pinnipeds are food for killer whales and polar bears.

Reproduction

These pinnipeds reach the age of sexual maturity by five years. The bulk of the mating season occurs in April-May. Males actively fight and identify strong individuals. Females carry their young for a year. A newborn individual reaches a body length of 80 cm and a weight of 30 kg. Since walruses are mammals, they feed their offspring with milk. The cub is born alone, very rarely there are two.

By the second year of life, the cub begins to switch to adult food. His tusks reach the required length and he begins to look for shellfish. From the first day they begin to swim with their mother. The cub lives with its mother for two years. But even after this period, the female does not seek to become pregnant with a new baby. As a rule, they give birth to one walrus every four years. Fun fact - in a herd of animals, only 5% of females become pregnant.

The average lifespan of powerful pinnipeds is 30 years. The animal grows up to 20 years. According to unconfirmed reports, there were individuals who lived for forty and fifty years.

Threat to the species

The main threat to many animals comes from people. For hunters and poachers, the powerful pinnipeds have become a source of tusks (valuable on the black market), meat and lard. Despite restrictions on fishing and territory protection, the number of walruses is declining and they are in danger of extinction. An exception is made only for the indigenous peoples of the North - the Chukchi and Eskimos. For them, this is a natural need and even they can catch a limited number of individuals. The meat of this animal is a necessary part of their diet due to national characteristics.

Polar bears do not attack walruses very often. In the water he is clearly losing, and on land the forces will not be equal. Its prey is mainly young and old animals, as well as sick ones. Orcas present more real threat. In water they are swift and ruthless. They are larger and heavier than pinnipeds. They have only one chance to escape - to crawl onto land. Fun fact: Orcas work as teams. They divide the herd into groups and push them away from the shore and ice floes. A fragmented community becomes easy prey for predators. Other animals do not pose a threat to walruses.