Walrus reproduction studied in CA

Arctic ice floes are shrinking because of global warming, which means the numbers of walruses could decrease. That possibility makes the breeding behavior of Jocko and his two female friends, who live at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, fascinating to scientists - to the point that one researcher is creating an artificial vagina to entice the 2,200-pound Pacific walrus into sexual acts that can be measured and quantified. "This would be the first semen sample out of a walrus in the wild or captivity," said Holley Muraco, a specialist in marine mammal reproduction who has constructed similar body parts for horses, cows and pigs. She said the dramatic changes likely to occur in the Arctic would affect walrus breeding, an obscure activity about which little is known, partly because it happens underwater and partly because Pacific walruses live in a remote part of the world. "It's extremely mysterious," Muraco said. "They're very inaccessible. But we're able to study the Six Flags walruses so intimately, and they participate so fully, that we can apply that science to wild animals if we need to." If researchers can understand and demystify walrus sex, their findings will shed light on how environmental change can influence the conditions that hurt or help breeding. Source: SF Chronicle

Video: Sara the Walrus

Watch video Sara is the star attraction at the newly-opened Istanbul Dolphinarium. Her skills at mimicking humans extend to dressing up as a railway conductor and blowing a whistle. She can lie down and catch a rose when it is thrown to her. And she has become adept at games with balls and hoops. She certainly has a much more exciting life than she would in the wild, where walruses spend most of their lives lying on sea ice and seeking out molluscs to eat. They live for around 50 years in the wild. (via A Welsh View)

A walrus with bling

Akituusaq, the rare walrus calf billed as Brooklyn's biggest baby, is flaunting a fabulous new set of titanium crowns at Coney Island's New York Aquarium. The 16-month-old baby, affectionately called Tuusaq, was fitted with the caps after his keepers noticed the tips of his tiny tusks were already wearing away. "There were many jokes about putting a diamond in one, or having a laser etch his initials in the other," said David DeNardo, general curator at the New York Aquarium, "but we decided that was going a little bit too overboard. Source: New York Daily News

The loveable walrus

Dolphins are adored, whales revered, and seal pups make old Bond girls swoon. But walruses remain perversely, lumpishly obscure, known mostly for their sing-song linkage with a carpenter, an eggman and goo goo goo joob. Odobenus rosmarus is a magnificent creature, behaviorally, anatomically, acoustically and taxonomically in a category all its own. The walrus belongs to the pinniped suborder, the group of blubbery, fin-footed carnivores that includes seals and sea lions. Scientists are gathering evidence that the walrus is the most cognitively and socially sophisticated of all pinnipeds. Evidence suggests that the bonds between walruses are exceptionally strong: the animals share food, come to one another’s aid when under attack and nurse one another’s young. Walruses like to sing. Males woo females with lengthy compositions that have been compared in the complexity of their structure and phrasing to the songs of nightingales and humpback whales. Source: The New York Times (via Look at this)

Video: dancing walrus

Pick a Name for the Baby Walrus

On June 12, 2007, an event occurred at the New York Aquarium that had never happened before: A baby walrus was born. The baby was 115 pounds at birth and now, thanks to the care of his mother Kulu and the aquarium staff, he’s grown to a healthy whopping 256 pounds.

Now, we're giving you a chance to name him. Just select your favorite and then cast your vote! You have until October 10 at 5 p.m. We'll reveal the winning walrus name on TODAY on October 12.

TODAY's Question
What name would you choose for the New York Aquarium's baby walrus? Utvak: Means ice made from snow or ice cube. Ukiivak: Means king island Utumek: Means earth Akituusaq: Means gift given in return.
Thanks for voting! Voting ends Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. EST. Stay tuned to TODAY on October 12 to find out which name won!

(via)

Walrus penis sells for $8,000 at auction

Why he became extinct? All the female walruses ran when they saw that thing! A fossilized penis bone from an extinct walrus went for a whopping $8,000 at a Beverly Hills auction Sunday. The 4 1/2-foot-long bone was sold to the company that runs the Ripley's Believe It or Not museums. Discovered in Siberia, the fossilized penis bone is from a species of walrus that went extinct 12,000 years ago. The piece curves to a point and is covered with weathered skin and dry muscle tissue. (via)

Smooshi and Phil

Phil works as a Marine Mammal Trainer. In 2004, Smooshi, a then 18 month old baby walrus, arrived at Marineland from Russia weighing approximately 198lbs. The two would spend many hours playing, eating … even napping together, and an immediate bond was established. Fast forward to today (3 years and 600lbs later) and the bond remains unchanged. Smooshi will follow Phil absolutely anywhere often looking up to him for approval. They often take walks around the park or just play in the snow. This is a unique bond that is sure to amaze and touch you… it truly is “something you gotta see”. (via)