North American Walrus Population

Would the walrus return to Canada, is the Jane Goodall Act not permitting zoos to have walruses. I really hope that the walrus population in the zoo bounces back. In Canada, there aren't many zoos that want to house the walrus.
 
MidwestFan said:
Is there a source for this transfer? I suspect there will be other transfers to try to get breeding on a better track.
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I am very sorry but their is not a public source available for the transfer. SeaWorld unfortunately has become very non transparent about anything relating to their animals outside of the orcas and birth announcements.
 
ilovetimberdoodles said:
around 7 institutes in the us are meant to have walruses held in them but this estimate was recorded 13 years ago so its likely changed
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Of these:
Indianapolis Zoo- exhibit under renovation walrus supposed to return in 2024
Minnesota Zoo - Never came exhibit currently home to monk seal( unless their last passed away recently)
North Carolina Zoo- may still happen but probably won’t better chance then Red River Zoo
Red River zoo - Exhibit Proposed probably won’t happen as lack of individuals
Toronto Zoo - Exhibit Cancelled
Edmonton Valley Zoo - Replaced with Northern Fur Seal
Moody Gardens - Exhibit never built
Pittsburgh Zoo - Walrus passed before transfer so alternative species housed
Vancouver Aquarium - Temporary housed 2 but permanent exhibit never built


And those are the only ones I could find since 2000
(This is North America not just the USA)


 
At the time Olga the walrus died at Brookfield Zoo in 1987, she was one of only six walruses in captivity in the United States. Saint Louis' Sigfried had died in 1976 and one of his former walrus companions had moved to San Diego around that time.

I know the previous poster is discussing more recent than this, but it made me observe that walrus numbers in the United States have always been low and it looks like it was customary for a long time to only hold one or two individuals.
 
Very sad. The walrus population isn’t looking too great is it? I believe Aurora was transferred to Orlando in the hopes she’d have a calf but sadly it never happened. Hopefully a pregnancy happens soon.

Edit: any ideas as to the cause?
 
BlobfishBoy said:
Very sad. The walrus population isn’t looking too great is it? I believe Aurora was transferred to Orlando in the hopes she’d have a calf but sadly it never happened. Hopefully a pregnancy happens soon.

Edit: any ideas as to the cause?
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The cause of death? In an Indianapolis Zoo post (private) claims she was sluggish and died before an exploratory procedure

She also died on Friday, not Sunday
 
RIP. So sorry for the loss for her care team.

I don’t know how much longer the walrus population can take the loss of reproductive age females without any calves to make up for it. Hopefully there’s some good news soon.
 
JVM said:
I think it's time to have the conversation. How far are we from the point of no return on this population?
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@JVM, I very much agree.

I would hope the AZA will start taking a different tack with regards to ex situ management on walrus

Viz as they should do with 2. other marine / partial Arctic species ... polar bear - partially done now - and marine otters - no rescue, but build up an assurance group with ex situ conservation breeding ... -.
 
As people have said before, it’d be best to manage walruses in a colony instead of keeping pairs to hopefully encourage breeding. San Diego and Point Defiance keeping them that way is not exactly great and it’d probably be best to combine populations to make a more colony-like structure.

Orlando’s population looks better in this regard and is where I’d think another walrus pregnancy would occur.

Edit: once Indianapolis’ exhibit is reopened the population will be further fragmented…
 
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