This Adorable, Orphaned Baby Walrus Was Rescued by Two Researchers in Alaska.
A college student working with a U.S. Geological Survey walrus researcher near Point Lay, Alaska, found an orphaned calf in September, and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward took him in.
A college student helping with walrus research near her hometown of Point Lay, on Alaska's northwest coast, found an orphaned Pacific walrus calf in mid-September, according to an interview. Violet Anniskett was working with U.S. Geological Survey walrus researcher Tony Fischbach when she came across the calf lying between two carcasses.
Anniskett said she was photographing carcasses so she could count them later when she saw the animal's stomach move and then its eyes open. She also said there were bear tracks nearby. Fischbach made phone calls, and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward told them it could save the calf. Before going ahead, they asked the community, because people in the region hunt walrus for subsistence. Anniskett said the idea of the calf being harvested was hard to accept, but she trusted the community to make the right decision. Once the community had decided, the rescue could proceed.
For the next few days, Anniskett and Fischbach cared for the calf, which she named Annautaq after her late father. It followed them to their camp and into a cabin. She said the first night was the hardest: the calf was afraid, made a soft "hoo, hoo" sound and went to the windows. Over time he began lying beside them and sleeping, and he generally would not sleep unless one of them was in the room.
Moving him took several steps. People from town with a boat carried the calf across the lagoon to Point Lay, and the group then drove to the airport. He was transferred into a heavier-duty kennel that the SeaLife Center brought, which took a while because he was upset. Anniskett had a seat on the flight to Anchorage, and the group then drove to Seward, more than 800 miles from where he was found.
SeaLife Center staff say the calf is doing well and was recently transferred to a long-term home. Anniskett said she felt good about the outcome. "It felt very accomplishing," she said, adding that she was glad he would be fed from a bottle and could swim in a small pool.
Note: The headline says two researchers rescued the calf. The page describes a college student helping with research and a U.S. Geological Survey researcher, and says the community was asked before the rescue went ahead.
At a Glance
- Violet Anniskett found the Pacific walrus calf in mid-September near Point Lay, Alaska, between two carcasses.
- She was working with U.S. Geological Survey walrus researcher Tony Fischbach at the time.
- The calf traveled by boat, plane and road to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, more than 800 miles away.
- The calf was named Annautaq after Anniskett's late father.
- The SeaLife Center says he is doing well and was recently moved to a long-term home.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.