Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights

formercia

(18,479 posts) Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:45 PM Mar 2013

Walrus basks in Orkney attention

3 March 2013 Last updated at 09:19 ET

The creature was said to be enjoying the attention it was receiving

A walrus has turned up on a small Scottish island in what has been described as a "once in a lifetime" event.

The animal, thought to be a young male, was spotted on the shoreline of North Ronaldsay in Orkney.

It appeared to be in good health and happy to be the centre of attention.

Wildlife experts said it was extremely unusual for a walrus to be spotted so far south of the North Pole and Arctic Ocean.

--snip--

Another symptom of Global Warming. The Ice they normally congregate on is disappearing, forcing them to find places to come ashore.

9 replies

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Walrus basks in Orkney attention (Original Post) formercia Mar 2013 OP

They are awesome animals! longship Mar 2013 #1

What a ham! Helen Reddy Mar 2013 #2

Chumley! Faygo Kid Mar 2013 #3

I am the Walrus. Adorable and sad. nt Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #4

Aww, poor thing--hope he does well. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #5

He's just Molting, so he looks a little ratty. formercia Mar 2013 #6

I don't know if you can blame a single incident on global warming. LeftyMom Mar 2013 #7

Reminds me a little of the seal that came in through a family's cat door Tanuki Mar 2013 #8

Okay, I admit... WillParkinson Mar 2013 #9

longship

(40,416 posts)

1. They are awesome animals!

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:48 PM

Mar 2013

Thanks for posting.

Helen Reddy

(998 posts)

2. What a ham!

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:55 PM

Mar 2013

Faygo Kid

(21,478 posts)

3. Chumley!

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:55 PM

Mar 2013

or maybe this one:

Mnemosyne

(21,363 posts)

4. I am the Walrus. Adorable and sad. nt

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 01:55 PM

Mar 2013

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

5. Aww, poor thing--hope he does well.

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 02:01 PM

Mar 2013

formercia

(18,479 posts)

6. He's just Molting, so he looks a little ratty.

Reply to TwilightGardener (Reply #5)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 02:41 PM

Mar 2013

It's normal for them to haul-out when the Weather begins to warm.

LeftyMom

(49,212 posts)

7. I don't know if you can blame a single incident on global warming.

Reply to formercia (Original post)

Mon Mar 4, 2013, 05:34 AM

Mar 2013

You'd have to have a trend before you could make that argument, with a single animal it's just as likely to be sick (which can mess up their ability to navigate) or just plain lost.

I live 100 miles inland and we occasionally get marine mammals (whales on several occasions, as well as seals and sea lions) this far upriver. A sea lion turned up on a farm road in Fresno once, which is a good deal farther from the ocean than I am.

Tanuki

(14,918 posts)

8. Reminds me a little of the seal that came in through a family's cat door

Reply to LeftyMom (Reply #7)

Thu Mar 7, 2013, 12:24 PM

Mar 2013

They lived near the harbor, in New Zealand. The little seal then sauntered into the den and plopped down on the sofa as if he owned the place! (cute pics at link)
http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news/2011/12/seal-sneaks-into-house-grabs-some-shut-eye-on-couch.html

WillParkinson

(16,862 posts)

9. Okay, I admit...

Reply to Tanuki (Reply #8)

Sun Mar 31, 2013, 04:28 AM

Mar 2013

That *WAS* adorable.

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