The bond between a mother and her offspring is known to be the longest and strongest among pinnipeds, with walrus calves relying on their mom for one to two years and some will stay with their mom for up to five years. So what happens if a calf is orphaned and needs help?
The ASLC is the only institution authorized to respond to stranded and orphaned marine mammals in the state of Alaska. If a walrus calf is orphaned in Alaska and comes into rehabilitation, there is no way a human care team can replicate the maternal care a mother walrus would provide fully.
Pacific walruses are a gregarious species, often found in tightly huddled herds, lying in direct contact with one another. Because of this social need, the rehabilitation team offers companionship and contact 24/7, while providing the intensive health care she needs. Their mothers would also teach them important survival skills, such as foraging for food on the ocean floor and evading predators, which are skills that we cannot teach them.
This habituation to human care means that we know any orphaned walrus calf admitted to rehabilitation will not be a candidate for release, but that it will continue to receive incredible care and serve as an important ambassador for their species, raising awareness about the challenges faced by Pacific walruses and the ecosystems they live in.
This is quite different from many of the other marine mammal rehabilitation patients we work with. For example, harbor seals are our most common patient in the ASLC wildlife response program, and they are excellent candidates for release. Harbor seal pups in the wild only stay with their moms for 4 to 6 weeks until they are on their own, building independent survival skills. Unless a rehabilitated harbor seal has a medical issue or something that prevents them from being able to survive on their own in the wild, they are released back to the ocean once they reach a healthy weight.
Four ASLC rehabilitation patients from 2024 were recently released in Kenai, Alaska.
That isn’t the case for species like Pacific walruses and northern sea otters that are orphaned and admitted to rehabilitation. These animals require 24/7 hands-on care from humans to mimic the maternal care they would be receiving from their mothers for an extended amount of time.
Our program’s goal is always to rehabilitate and release back to the wild, but for some species, the care they require means that isn’t an option. For “Little Miss Walrus,” this is also the case.
The USFWS, which authorizes the ASLC to respond to orphaned walrus calves like this one, has now officially deemed this calf unreleasable and has triggered multiple in-depth discussions on where her long-term home will be. The discussion is being led by a team of walrus care experts from across the country, including staff members from the only four institutions to have walruses in human care, who will give insight into where the best social dynamic for this little one will be.
Including “Little Miss Walrus,” there are currently only 11 walruses in human care in the USA. Indianapolis Zoo is home to previous ASLC rehabilitation patient “Aku” and another female walrus. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has two walruses, and SeaWorld San Diego is home to two, as well. SeaWorld Orlando is home to four Pacific walruses.
All of these organizations, as well as Georgia Aquarium, sent staff members to Alaska to assist with the calf’s care. This highlights the power of collaboration in wildlife conservation and demonstrates the commitment of AZA-accredited institutions to preserving marine wildlife.
As her health continues to improve, “Team Walrus” is starting to prepare this special calf for the move to her long-term home by introducing her to her transport unit and making sure she is in great condition for the long move to one of the organizations currently caring for walruses in the lower 48.
No matter where she ends up, we know she will carry the spirit of Alaska with her and become an incredible ambassador for her species. She’s already touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people around the world, and we know she will continue to do so wherever she goes.
September 24, 2024 Update
“Little Miss Walrus’s” official name is…
Ukiaq!
“Uki” (pronounced oo-kee) for short
Her name, “Ukiaq,” translates to “autumn” in the language of the Iñupiaq people who live in the area of northern Alaska where she was first found. This is a fitting reference to her lovely golden brown fur and the season here in Alaska that we will say “so long” to this incredible ambassador. “Uki” is also said to be of Inuit origin meaning “survivor,” which is so fitting for the incredible journey of this orphaned calf.
We know Uki will bring the Alaskan spirit with her wherever she goes and honor the rich culture and traditions of the Alaskan Native peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial.
September 26, 2024 Update
Uki has successfully arrived to her new home, SeaWorld Orlando!
A nationwide group of walrus and marine mammal experts from AZA’s Marine Mammal Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) determined that SeaWorld Orlando is the best setting for Uki. This consensus decision prioritized her social needs, ensuring she joins a diverse social group of walruses. Included in this group is an adult female walrus named “Kaboodle,” who has experience with walrus calves and could be a potential surrogate mother for Uki.
ASLC Animal Care Specialist Halley and a veterinarian were with Uki for her entire journey to Orlando. Halley stayed in Orlando for a few days to make Uki’s transition as smooth as possible as she got to know her new dedicated team of animal care specialists, including a staff member who traveled to Alaska to help with Uki’s round-the-clock care at the beginning of her rehab journey.
Halley reported that Uki ate well for the entire journey and settled in well, saying “Uki loved her new pool! She was playing with all of her favorite enrichment toys like her favorite hard hat and kelp right away, and discovered some other great toys that were new to her, like a tunnel. She found the sleeping den in her area to be the perfect place to take a long hard nap with her new caretakers beside her.”
While we will miss Uki dearly, we know her moving to her new home to be with other walruses is the best choice for her well-being, and we’re excited to see her continue to be an incredible ambassador for her species and her home in Alaska, as she already has been.
The ASLC will continue to be involved with Uki’s journey and care, but the majority of her updates will come from her new caretakers at SeaWorld Orlando. We can’t thank you all enough for following her story while at the ASLC so closely and for caring for Uki just as much as we do!
Our team has responded to and rehabilitated hundreds of marine animals since opening in 1998. The ASLC is the only institution authorized to rehabilitate live-stranded marine mammals in the state with our Wildlife Response Program, and we are deeply committed to marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, a value that SeaWorld shares. With your support, we are able to continue responding to stranded, injured, and orphaned marine mammals in the state of Alaska, like Uki.
Has anyone tried to release them with in a group when older ??
please read the full article. once a calf becomes habituated to humans as caregivers, this is deemed impossible. the calf only knows how to obtain food and companionship from humans. the calf cannot forage for food as they did not learn this behaviour when young.
I have fallen in love with Uki 😍 what a beautiful wee lassie! I hope she lives a long and healthy life in Orlando and well done to the team in Alaska for looking after her. I may make a trip overseas one day just to see her.