Walrus currently in captivity

[zoologicus]

I'm honestly not even a little bit optimistic about the North American population but I still desperately hope to be proven wrong. If I'm being completely honest I almost want to say that I hate seeing new animals brought into the US when it's almost statistically guaranteed that their genetic potential will be wasted.

Capacity is an issue at most of the current habitats in the US, leading to situations where, even though there are new management techniques and ideas being recommended, facilities are limited in their ability to follow them.

There's also the /incredibly/ poor judgment call of sending two of the most valuable potential founders in the US to Six Flags, which has a well-documented history of inadequate filtration systems kept in disrepair causing animal deaths, and then leaving the walruses in those poor conditions for well over a month after issues arose. I understand that preparations for transfers likely take time but I struggle to define anything about that entire situation as acceptable.

But at the end of the day those in charge of overseeing the program are the experts and I'm just a bystander frustrated by the surface-level appearance of the situation. I don't have the nuances of why or how decisions are made, but I trust (or I try to trust) that they were made with the absolute best intentions in mind for the animals after extensive and thorough review.

 

[Great Argus]

There's also the /incredibly/ poor judgment call of sending two of the most valuable potential founders in the US to Six Flags, which has a well-documented history of inadequate filtration systems kept in disrepair causing animal deaths, and then leaving the walruses in those poor conditions for well over a month after issues arose. I understand that preparations for transfers likely take time but I struggle to define anything about that entire situation as acceptable.

I really don't know why they ended up back there anyway. It's easily one of the worst walrus habitats in NA.

 

[TinoPup]

Thought you guys might be interested in this. I was looking at SW Orlando's website and they've added a Walrus Encounter. It's $50, 30 min, and you get to pet a walrus and have your photo taken. SW San Diego has a new encounter that sounds the same, though it's $65 there.

 

[Randomname0183]

Looking through the current walrus population in the US (this May be of help for those of you interested Walrus Network - Current Parks), I hope a breeding colony akin to the one in Pairi Daiza could be created, with all of the captive population being sent to an adequate environment. Alongside the European Breeding program, it could become really successful and establish a colony for the AZA. I’d pick Seaworld San Diego or Indianapolis zoos or the colony. Preferably the Canadian population could be brought in (the hybrid at Quebec aside, of course). European specimens could be imported for it too if needed and done responsibly.

 

[zoologicus]

Thought you guys might be interested in this. I was looking at SW Orlando's website and they've added a Walrus Encounter. It's $50, 30 min, and you get to pet a walrus and have your photo taken. SW San Diego has a new encounter that sounds the same, though it's $65 there.

I don't know about San Diego but Orlando's Walrus Encounter was started in October last year, and you get to meet Slowpoke (the oldest walrus that's ever lived!) at Sea Lion & Otter Stadium! You get a lot of physical contact with her on the encounter. I'm hoping to do it next time I'm there.

Looking through the current walrus population in the US (this May be of help for those of you interested Walrus Network - Current Parks), I hope a breeding colony akin to the one in Pairi Daiza could be created, with all of the captive population being sent to an adequate environment. Alongside the European Breeding program, it could become really successful and establish a colony for the AZA. I’d pick Seaworld San Diego or Indianapolis zoos or the colony. Preferably the Canadian population could be brought in (the hybrid at Quebec aside, of course). European specimens could be imported for it too if needed and done responsibly.

AZA facilities have been recommended to consolidate their walruses into larger herds and that's already been done to a significant extent, but capacity at several of the facilities is an issue (for example, Orlando currently), limiting the degree to which they're able to follow the most modern management techniques. Call me a pessimist but I wouldn't hold my breath on the AZA seeing anywhere near the success that Europe or Japan for example has had.

San Diego at least has the capacity for up to 8 bulls or 12 cows (or a combination of those), so there's the potential for a larger breeding herd there

 

[Randomname0183]

AZA facilities have been recommended to consolidate their walruses into larger herds and that's already been done to a significant extent, but capacity at several of the facilities is an issue (for example, Orlando currently), limiting the degree to which they're able to follow the most modern management techniques. Call me a pessimist but I wouldn't hold my breath on the AZA seeing anywhere near the success that Europe or Japan for example has had.

San Diego at least has the capacity for up to 8 bulls or 12 cows (or a combination of those), so there's the potential for a larger breeding herd there

Thank you for telling me about this, I was unaware of this recommendation set to AZA facilites. However, wouldn’t it be possible for at least some of the AZA bulls or cows to be sent to some of the more successful facilities in Europe such as Hagenbeck? While I would mainly agree with your view of the American population as a whole dying out eventually, couldn’t at least some of the genetic value in this region could be put to use?

 

[zoologicus]

Thank you for telling me about this, I was unaware of this recommendation set to AZA facilites. However, wouldn’t it be possible for at least some of the AZA bulls or cows to be sent to some of the more successful facilities in Europe such as Hagenbeck? While I would mainly agree with your view of the American population as a whole dying out eventually, couldn’t at least some of the genetic value in this region could be put to use?

Unfortunately (for my pessimistic point of view, at least ), the AZA is incredibly dedicated to walruses right now. They're actively trying to import surplus walruses into the US, not export theirs to other countries.

I don't see anything going differently than it has over the last several decades, particularly when the population is still being managed largely the exact same way it always has been. There will likely be numerous calves born as a show of the recent increase in reproductive efforts, but this has happened on and off over said decades and I still highly doubt the population will survive long-term.

One such example of impermanent success would be Marineland of the Pacific's highly successful breeding colony, compromised of two separate herds. At least 11 pregnancies were conceived at this facility from 1971 to 1986 (to this day a world record tie with Kamogawa Sea World), with 8 to 10 pups being liveborn. All surviving walruses were transferred to SeaWorld San Diego in 1987.

3 of the calves conceived at Marineland survived to maturity (ultimately passing at ages 18, 20, and 29), and at least four second-generation offspring were produced, but none survived, and now the entire lineage of 19 or more walruses is completely gone.

Not to say that this is SeaWorld or the AZA's fault, not at all, walruses are just inherently an incredibly difficult species to maintain and sustainably reproduce. I, personally (keeping in mind that I'm nobody and these are just my opinions), don't believe that the current AZA habitats are built to manage walruses in a way that more closely mimics their natural life histories. We are, however, seeing that to varying extents with Hagenbeck and Pairi Daiza.

 

[Randomname0183]

Unfortunately (for my pessimistic point of view, at least ), the AZA is incredibly dedicated to walruses right now. They're actively trying to import surplus walruses into the US, not export theirs to other countries.

I don't see anything going differently than it has over the last several decades, particularly when the population is still being managed largely the exact same way it always has been. There will likely be numerous calves born as a show of the recent increase in reproductive efforts, but this has happened on and off over said decades and I still highly doubt the population will survive long-term.

One such example of impermanent success would be Marineland of the Pacific's highly successful breeding colony, compromised of two separate herds. At least 11 pregnancies were conceived at this facility from 1971 to 1986 (to this day a world record tie with Kamogawa Sea World), with 8 to 10 pups being liveborn. All surviving walruses were transferred to SeaWorld San Diego in 1987.

3 of the calves conceived at Marineland survived to maturity (ultimately passing at ages 18, 20, and 29), and at least four second-generation offspring were produced, but none survived, and now the entire lineage of 19 or more walruses is completely gone.

Not to say that this is SeaWorld or the AZA's fault, not at all, walruses are just inherently an incredibly difficult species to maintain and sustainably reproduce. I, personally (keeping in mind that I'm nobody and these are just my opinions), don't believe that the current AZA habitats are built to manage walruses in a way that more closely mimics their natural life histories. We are, however, seeing that to varying extents with Hagenbeck and Pairi Daiza.

Understood, also thanks for enlightening me about the marineland of the pacific walruses, I never knew they kept and bred them so well.

 

[zoologicus]

Quanzhou Europark Ocean Kingdom Paradise opened for trial operations today! Walruses have been advertised for the facility, but I have yet to visually confirm any. Hoping (if they do have walruses) that'll happen over the next couple of days as more park guests upload photos from their visits.

A day or two ago I also learned the name and gender of one of Chimelong's walruses -- a male named Oscar! That's 1 down, 6 more to go for genders and 13 more to go for names If anyone seeing this happens to be visiting the park and wants to make me a very happy man, please ask the staff what their names are and report them here haha.

 

[aardvark250]

Quanzhou Europark Ocean Kingdom Paradise opened for trial operations today! Walruses have been advertised for the facility, but I have yet to visually confirm any. Hoping (if they do have walruses) that'll happen over the next couple of days as more park guests upload photos from their visits.

Hoping they don't have walrus because i'm 85% sure the exhibit would be atrocious and 10% would be awful. (Although I'm pretty sure they will have because the other facility of Europark also have walrus in a shoebox exhibit)

 

[zoologicus]

Hoping they don't have walrus because i'm 85% sure the exhibit would be atrocious and 10% would be awful. (Although I'm pretty sure they will have because the other facility of Europark also have walrus in a shoebox exhibit)

Does Fuzhou Europark even have an exhibit? I've only ever seen the walruses perform at the stadium and assumed they otherwise were housed in holding there. Unless there's another Europark housing walruses I don't know about, could you please share the name and more info?

Besides Fuzhou (1.1 walruses) and Quanzhou there's also Xuzhou Europark opening in 2022 that's planning to house walrus

Edit: I believe Penglai is also under the same company and they definitely have an exhibit, perhaps you were referencing them?

 

[aardvark250]

On the website there are 4 facilities. Fuzhou Europark, Quanzhou Europark, Quancheng Europark(In Dezhou, ShanDong) and Penglai Polar Kingdom (in Yantai, ShanDong). Penglai polar kingdom definitely have(or had) walrus (i saw their exhibit photo on Baidu) and I think Quancheng Europark have them too.

 

[zoologicus]

On the website there are 4 facilities. Fuzhou Europark, Quanzhou Europark, Quancheng Europark(In Dezhou, ShanDong) and Penglai Polar Kingdom (in Yantai, ShanDong). Penglai polar kingdom definitely have(or had) walrus (i saw their exhibit photo on Baidu) and I think Quancheng Europark have them too.

I'm aware of what facilities there are, but I was asking which specific location you were referencing because the only Europark-branded facility I'm aware of that has walruses doesn't have a public display exhibit for them. So it was Penglai, then?

Fuzhou has 1.1 walruses, Penglai has 1.0, and Quancheng has 1.2.

 

[aardvark250]

I'm refering to Penglai, i don't know the exhibit in Quancheng.

 

[zoologicus]

I'm refering to Penglai, i don't know the exhibit in Quancheng.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Great Argus]

San Diego at least has the capacity for up to 8 bulls or 12 cows (or a combination of those), so there's the potential for a larger breeding herd there

Especially with the former Polar bear exhibit available, SWSD is probably the best candidate for forming another big group. They've got the space and experience with walrus. Do whatever renos are necessary on the former bear exhibit (which I think should be minimal) and use it instead of it sitting empty. I do hope that Japan import is allowed and can actually happen.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Especially with the former Polar bear exhibit available, SWSD is probably the best candidate for forming another big group. They've got the space and experience with walrus. Do whatever renos are necessary on the former bear exhibit (which I think should be minimal) and use it instead of it sitting empty. I do hope that Japan import is allowed and can actually happen.

How many walruses you think they could hold I'm thinking 10+ animals

 

[Westcoastperson]

Especially with the former Polar bear exhibit available, SWSD is probably the best candidate for forming another big group. They've got the space and experience with walrus. Do whatever renos are necessary on the former bear exhibit (which I think should be minimal) and use it instead of it sitting empty. I do hope that Japan import is allowed and can actually happen.

The old polar bear exhibit isn't exactly a great fit. Besides the obvious that they are holding Northern Sea Otters there (and the ringed seals and harbor seals they used to keep in it are still around) the overall design of the space isn't fitting. The water area is not large enough for a walrus ad has too many obstacles. Behind the scenes doesn't have the right type of fencing for walruses and is also missing a pool. Now SeaWorld is supposed to build a new ride in the old simulator area at Wild Arctic so if they could do a full redesign of that polar bear exhibit that would be great but I doubt they would do it. They probably want as much species diversity in that exhibit as they can get in Wild Arctic and with the two new rides on either side (mako to the south and the new arctic coaster to the east) I don't think we will ever see two walrus exhibits in wild arctic. Now that doesn't stop Seaworld from hosting a bts breeding group like they're Humboldt penguin colony and they do have the space for one. But the SeaWorld company probably wouldn't build one unless they were pressured by the AZA to build one. But I do agree if someone in North America was to bring back walruses and have a massive colony it would be SeaWorld San Diego.

 

[Great Argus]

How many walruses you think they could hold I'm thinking 10+ animals

I'm not an expert in walrus husbandry so I'm not certain, but probably not more than 6-8 walrus. That would be if the Polar bear exhibit is made amenable for walruses. Just the single walrus exhibit, max is probably four, maybe 5.

The old polar bear exhibit isn't exactly a great fit. Besides the obvious that they are holding Northern Sea Otters there (and the ringed seals and harbor seals they used to keep in it are still around) the overall design of the space isn't fitting.

Why did they move the otters? Or did they get additional ones? And fair point with the seals.

The water area is not large enough for a walrus ad has too many obstacles. Behind the scenes doesn't have the right type of fencing for walruses and is also missing a pool. Now SeaWorld is supposed to build a new ride in the old simulator area at Wild Arctic so if they could do a full redesign of that polar bear exhibit that would be great but I doubt they would do it. They probably want as much species diversity in that exhibit as they can get in Wild Arctic and with the two new rides on either side (mako to the south and the new arctic coaster to the east) I don't think we will ever see two walrus exhibits in wild arctic.

Fair points. (I'm curious to know how you learned about the bts areas, and the water area issues.) Also given the park is trying to bring in walrus with the Japan import, they may be interested enough to do some extra work.

 

[Westcoastperson]

Why did they move the otters? Or did they get additional ones? And fair point with the seals.

They acquired one or two northern otters sometime during quarantine and have been keeping them in the old polar bear exhibit. They should be marked on the map.

Fair points. (I'm curious to know how you learned about the bts areas, and the water area issues.) Also given the park is trying to bring in walrus with the Japan import, they may be interested enough to do some extra work.

I’ve been behind the scenes of wild arctic. I’ve been in the behind the scenes for walruses which has a pool and typical zoo bars the walruses can stick their heads through. Also it is fairly open air and possibly has a skylight.
The polar bear exhibit is completely indoors and has A LOT of safety precautions. It has a tight wire fence not allowing animal and keeper interaction (which seemed very important with the walruses). There is a water area but I’m almost sure it was a kiddie pool. Also part of the polar bear area is a maternity section for mother polar bears. The different shoots and gates just simply aren’t usable for walruses. Also in the maternity section there may be different levels on the floor, it’s difficult to remember.
As for the inside of the exhibit I’ve been inside it twice when they had the seals in the exhibit. Some changes to make would have to be: better land access, I noticed the seals had trouble getting over the edges so it would need some sort of beach; the land is rough and not big enough for over 5 walruses so that should be taken into consideration; the underwater section just isn’t big or deep enough; the wooden bridge and the underwater topography would make swimming impossible for walruses.
Wait have they expressed importing walruses form Japan? If so that could change their possible approach to a renovated wild arctic.