ANNAUTAQ'S JOURNEY TO ORLANDO PHOTO VIA SEAWORLD PARKS
An orphaned Pacific walrus calf found alone on a remote Alaska beach is now at SeaWorld Orlando, where he is in a planned 30-day quarantine before he is introduced to the park’s walrus herd.
The five-month-old male, named Annautaq (which means “axe” in Alaskan Inuit), weighs about 220 pounds, according to the official press release. SeaWorld says he is getting around-the-clock care from its animal care and veterinary team, including up to six bottle feedings a day. He is fed a high-fat milk formula developed by SeaWorld’s teams to mimic the fat content of walrus milk.
Annautaq was found in mid-September on a beach near Point Lay on Alaska’s northwest coast, Alaska Public Media reported. Violet Anniskett, a college student helping with walrus research, was working with U.S. Geological Survey scientist Tony Fischbach when they came upon the calf between two adult walrus carcasses. The release says the herd had left during heavy surf and that scavenging birds were already circling. Alaska Public Media reported bear tracks were also found nearby.
The pair cared for him for several days, with help from the local community and federal wildlife officials, before he was flown to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.
SeaWorld sent animal care and veterinary staff to Alaska to help prepare him for a 4,000-mile trip to Florida after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined he could not be released into the wild, because Pacific walruses depend on their mothers’ milk and protection for the first year of life.
SeaWorld Orlando describes itself as one of only four U.S. institutions currently able to house walruses. Annautaq will join Uki, 2, a rescued calf that also came from the Alaska SeaLife Center, and Kaboodle, 23, an experienced mother that has served as a surrogate for rescued calves, including Uki. The third member of the herd is Garfield, 44, who was rescued as an orphaned calf in Alaska and raised at SeaWorld Orlando.
“At this young age, Annautaq needs more than nutrition and veterinary care,” said Jim Kinsler, curator at SeaWorld Orlando. “He also needs close contact and companionship, which our expert team is providing around the clock. As he settles in, we’ll make introductions to Garfield, Kaboodle and Uki at his pace.”
SeaWorld has not said when Annautaq will be introduced to the herd or when guests can see him. For now, visitors can see the resident herd at the park’s Expedition Odyssey habitat. The release says Annautaq and Uki will eventually serve as ambassadors for their species.
