Walrus currently in captivity

@AmbikaFan I think TheGerenuk means both Arnaliaq and Boris are well. One of our French speaking members on the Canadian, Pier-Luc Chouinard, forum translated for us and the video included in the post mentioned that she was past due, there was no signs of lactation and she was gaining the weigh she should have. Sounds like the fetus was reabsorbed at some point. No mention of a miscarriage or stillbirth.
 
Thanks, I understand. Originally after reading that the pregnancy was not successful, I suspected either stillbirth or resorption, but when he said both were doing well, it sounded as if there was a living baby and both mother and baby were doing well! I love this species so much. I'm very sorry this pregnancy didn't end successfully.

Thanks for clearing things up!

Can walrus have false pregnancies?
 
Overview of the captive walrus population since April 2019.

Transfers:
0.1 Mii was transferred from the Toba Aquarium to the Umitamago Aquarium on May 18, 2019.
Breeding Loan Walrus ‘Mii’ has returned to Oita Prefecture | Toba Aquarium

Deaths:
Eighteen year old 1.0 Apollo passed away in April 2019 at Marineland Canada.
Marineland confirms walrus death | CTV News

Twenty-four year old 0.1 Joan passed away on May 30, 2019 at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
Beloved Pacific Walrus Joan Dies | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Other:
The female calf born to 1.0 Garfield and 0.1 Kaboodle on July 3, 2019 at SeaWorld Orlando has been named Kora.
Meet Kora - SeaWorld Orlando | Facebook

The male calf born to 1.0 Odin and 0.1 Polosa on May 5, 2019 at Tierpark Hagenbeck has been named Fiete.
Horst Lichter tauft Walrossbaby | Tierpark Hagenbeck

Current captive walrus population as of July 2019.

SeaWorld San Diego - San Diego, California, USA
1.0 Dozer (Illiyak x Tumuk) 1993.06.21
1.0 Mitik 2012.00.00
0.1 Uquq 1994.00.00
0.1 Chouchou (Takku x Mikku) 2010.05.05

SeaWorld Orlando - Orlando, Florida, USA
1.0 Garfield 1982.00.00
1.0 Aku 2017.00.00
0.1 Slowpoke 1977.00.00
0.1 Kaboodle (Obie x Kitkatska) 2003.05.01
0.1 Ginger (Garfield x Kaboodle) 2017.06.03
0.1 Kora (Garfield x Kaboodle) 2019.07.03

Indianapolis Zoo - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
1.0 Pakak 2012.00.00
0.1 Aurora 1995.00.00

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Tacoma, Washington, USA
0.1 Basilla 1983.00.00
0.1 Kulusiq 1994.00.00

Vancouver Aquarium - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1.0 Balzak (Boris x Samka) 2016.05.23
0.1 Lakina (Boris x Arnaliaq) 2016.05.07

Marineland Canada - Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
0.1 Smooshi 2004.00.00

Aquarium du Québec - Quebec City, Québec, Canada
1.0 Boris 2005.00.00
0.1 Arnaliaq 2003.00.00

Tierpark Hagenbeck - Hamburg, Germany
1.0 Odin 1996.00.00
1.0 Thor (Odin x Dyna) 2014.06.15
1.0 Fiete (Odin x Polosa) 2019.05.05
0.1 Dyna 1996.00.00
0.1 Polosa 1996.00.00
0.1 Raisa (Igor x Rossita) 2004.06.22

Dolfinarium Harderwijk - Harderwijk, Netherlands
1.0 Nikolai (Igor x Olga) 1995.06.17
0.1 Olga 1982.00.00
0.1 Rossita 1995.00.00
0.1 Olivia (Odin x Polosa) 2008.07.04

Oceanogràfic Valencia - Valencia, Spain
0.1 Ninotchka 2003.00.00
0.1 Petrushka 2003.00.00
0.1 Tanya 2003.00.00

Moskvarium - Moscow, Russia
0.1 Klava 2011.00.00
0.1 Lora 2011.00.00
0.1 Yeva 2011.00.00

Yaroslavl Dolphinarium - Yaroslavl, Russia
1.0 Potap 2013.00.00
0.1 Nastya 2013.00.00

Primorsky Aquarium - Vladivostok, Russia
1.0 Misha 2010.00.00

St. Petersburg Dolphinarium - St. Petersburg, Russia
1.0 Svyatogor 2012.00.00
0.1 Sonya 2002.00.00
0.1 Frosya 2016.00.00

Center of Oceanography & Marine Biology - Novosibirsk, Russia
0.1 Tika 2010.00.00

Anapa Dolphinarium - Anapa, Russia
0.1 Nyusha 2007.00.00

Gelendzhik Dolphinarium - Gelendzhik, Russia
0.1 Antonina 2006.00.00

Morskaya Zvezda Dolphinarium - Sochi, Russia
1.0 Funtic 2013.00.00
1.0 Benya 2013.00.00

Aquatoria - Yalta, Russia
1.0 Saltan 2004.00.00

Udmurtia Zoo - Izhevsk, Russia
1.0 Enurmin 2006.00.00
0.1 Eva 2006.00.00
0.1 Neseyka 2007.00.00

Centre for Marine Mammal Adaptation - Srednyaya Bay, Russia
1.0 Unknown 2018.00.00
0.1 Unknown 2018.00.00
0.1 Unknown 2018.00.00
0.1 Unknown 2018.00.00
0.1 Unknown 2018.00.00
0.1 Unknown 2018.00.00

Xiaomeisha Sea World - Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
1.0 Wangzi 2010.00.00

Harbin Polarland - Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
1.0 Yinou 2009.00.00
0.1 Yiwa 2009.00.00

Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park - Dalian, Liaoning, China
0.1 Aida 2012.00.00
0.1 Lisa 2012.00.00

Royal Ocean Park - Fushun, Liaoning, China
1.0 Adam 2005.00.00
0.1 Gelusha 2005.00.00
0.1 Doris (Adam x Gelusha) 2017.06.13

Shendiao Mountain Wildlife Park - Rongcheng, Shandong, China
1.0 Anan 2004.00.00
0.1 Pingping 2004.00.00

Shenyou Sea World - Weihai, Shandong, China
1.0 Gavryusha 2008.00.00

Haichang Whale Shark Ocean Park - Yantai, Shandong, China
1.0 Aosika 2013.00.00

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park - Putuo, Shanghai, China
1.0 Luobote 2000.00.00
0.1 Feier 2001.00.00

Haichang Polar Ocean Park - Chengdu, Sichuan, China
1.0 Badun 2004.00.00

Changqiao Polar Ocean Park - Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
0.1 Marus 2011.00.00

Ningbo Ocean World - Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
0.1 Dudu 2009.00.00

Ocean Park Hong Kong - Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
1.0 Rock (Takku x Mukku) 2003.06.01
0.1 Miru 1999.00.00

Minamichita Beach Land - Mihama, Aichi, Japan
1.0 Kikku (Takku x Mukku) 1997.05.27
0.1 Sakura 1998.00.00

Kamogawa Sea World - Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan
1.0 Takku 1983.00.00
1.0 Riku (Takku x Mikku) 2013.04.23
0.1 Mina (Takku x Mikku) 2007.05.20
0.1 Riru (Takku x Mikku) 2016.05.01

Otaru Aquarium - Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan
1.0 Uchio 1990.00.00
0.1 Urya 1991.00.00
0.1 Shizuku (Uchio x Urya) 2016.04.06

Kinosaki Marine World - Toyooka, Hyōgo, Japan
0.1 Guri 1997.00.00
0.1 Sora 2005.00.00

Hakkeijima Sea Paradise - Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
1.0 Seita 1991.00.00
0.1 Uchi 1991.00.00
0.1 Piko 1995.00.00
0.1 Moko 1995.00.00
0.1 Ako 2002.00.00

Ise Sea Paradise - Ise, Mie, Japan
0.1 Himawari 2001.00.00
0.1 Tanpopo 2003.00.00

Toba Aquarium - Toba, Mie, Japan
1.0 Pou 2005.00.00
0.1 Kuu 2005.00.00
0.1 Tsurara (Uchio x Urya) 2009.05.31

Umitamago Aquarium - Ōita, Ōita, Japan
0.1 Bubu 2001.00.00
0.1 Mii 2001.00.00
0.1 Izumi 2005.00.00

Izu Mito Sea Paradise - Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
0.1 Snow 2003.00.00

Aqua Planet Ilsan - Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
0.1 Meli 2010.00.00

Aqua Planet Jeju - Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korea
0.1 Barya 2005.00.00

Dolphin World - Hurghada, Egypt
0.1 Lila 2009.00.00

Dolphin Park - Kish, Hormozgan, Iran
0.1 Donya 2009.00.00

Istanbul Dolphinarium - Istanbul, Turkey
1.0 Lolik 2004.00.00
0.1 Sara 2004.00.00

The Land of Legends Theme Park - Kadriye, Turkey
0.1 Silva 2003.00.00
 
Another good effort in compiling all of a species so thoroughly, yet again, Elephant Enthusiast!

Am I the only one to feel icky inside when I read that four of Marineland's walruses died in two years? I don't believe any of them were even 20 years old, while walrus in the wild live to 30. In human care, they should live even longer. This is disturbing even for Marineland.
 
AmbikaFan said:
Another good effort in compiling all of a species so thoroughly, yet again, Elephant Enthusiast!
Click to expand...

Thank you @AmbikaFan! I truly enjoy researching and studbooking the captive population of elephants, walruses, polar bears, etc!

AmbikaFan said:
Am I the only one to feel icky inside when I read that four of Marineland's walruses died in two years? I don't believe any of them were even 20 years old, while walrus in the wild live to 30. In human care, they should live even longer. This is disturbing even for Marineland.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. It's very disheartening to know that four walruses have died at Marineland Canada in the past two years. I'm just hopeful that Marineland makes the ethical decision to phase out their walrus program and relocate Smooshi to another institution. Smooshi deserves to live at a facility that only requires their walruses to perform husbandry behaviours, and enables her to act and socialize like a walrus.
 
I've been to Marineland more than once, and Zeus, Apollo, Buttercup, and Smooshi are the only walruses I've ever seen. The first time I went, all four were playful youngsters and could not possibly have been cuter or more wonderful. It was just a joy to see the species, let alone these 5 adorable little ones. I felt very grateful at the time that I and my daughter had had that experience. Now, It's very hard to imagine these teenage walrus all dead. And it seems like only yesterday that a number of belugas all died within a short amount of time. Now when I think of all of the marine mammals, I feel terrible, as if I had great pleasure at their expense. What I've read over the years has made my heart sink further and further. I feel complicit in their deaths, but do you know what? I'd probably go again if I could, to see Smooshi before she too has died. I've read so much how everything seems to be about money for its owner, God help me, but I can't help but wonder where all the tusks went......
 
Last edited:
Thirty six year old 1.0 Takku passed away on October 14, 2019 at Kamogawa Sea World.
Takku, the walrus, has died | Kamogawa Sea World

Takku was the most prolific captive walrus; producing nine calves during his time at Kamogawa Sea World. Takku is survived by his six calves, of which three still reside at Kamogawa Sea World. With Takku's passing, Kamogawa's walrus breeding program comes to halt until another breeding bull is acquired.

0.1 Basilla and 0.1 Kulusiq were transferred from the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to SeaWorld San Diego sometime between October 14 & 18, 2019.
Walrus Farewell | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Welcome Basa & Kulu! - SeaWorld San Diego | Facebook

Basilla and Kulusiq were moved to SeaWorld San Diego to form a breeding colony with resident walruses 1.0 Dozer, 0.1 Uquq, and 0.1 Chouchou.

With the departure of Basilla and Kulusiq, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is expected to house two younger males. With only three young male walruses in the United States, it's very likely that the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will acquire 1.0 Mitik from SeaWorld San Diego and 1.0 Pakak from the Indianapolis Zoo. However, if Pakak is to move from the Indianapolis Zoo, then 0.1 Aurora would be left alone. Unless, there are plans to move Aurora to another facility as well. It'll be interesting to see which walruses move to Tacoma in the coming months.
 
Does anyone know if the NY Aquarium still holds walrus? I saw there were none there and I'm worried if they left.
 
Not for at least three years now. You need to go to the Centennial Zoo. I should have imported 20.70 as time has told..o_O
 
Last edited:
Ebirah766 said:
Does anyone know if the NY Aquarium still holds walrus? I saw there were none there and I'm worried if they left.
Click to expand...

The New York Aquarium has not housed walruses for nearly three years. The remaining walrus 0.1 Kulusiq was transferred to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in December 2016, and currently resides at SeaWorld San Diego as of October 2019[I][II]. There were two other walruses residing at the New York Aquarium however 0.1 Nuka passed away in August 2015[III] and 1.0 Mitik was transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio in January 2014, and currently resides at SeaWorld San Diego as of January 2016[IV].

[I] Walrus Network - Kulusiq
[II] Welcome Basa & Kulu! - SeaWorld San Diego | Facebook
[III] Walrus Network - Nuka
[IV] Walrus Network - Mitik
 
Last edited:
Elephant Enthusiast said:
It'll be interesting to see which walruses move to Tacoma in the coming months.
Click to expand...

1.0 Aku and 0.1 Ginger were transferred from SeaWorld Orlando to the Indianapolis Zoo on November 13, 2019.
Welcome Two New Young Walrus - Indianapolis Zoo
Personal communication with the Indianapolis Zoo

0.1 Aurora was transferred from the Indianapolis Zoo to SeaWorld Orlando on November 13, 2019.
Welcome to Orlando, Aurora - Walrus Family | SeaWorld Orlando
What's Happening at SeaWorld Orlando - Blog | SeaWorld Orlando

1.0 Pakak was transferred from the Indianapolis Zoo to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on November 14, 2019.
Two orphaned walruses reunite - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

1.0 Mitik was transferred from SeaWorld San Diego to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on November 14, 2019.
Two orphaned walruses reunite - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

As predicted, Mitik and Pakak were moved to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. However, the transfer of Aurora to SeaWorld Orlando and the transfer of Ginger and Aku to the Indianapolis Zoo was a pleasant surprise. I'm glad Aurora is finally in a natural breeding situation, and hopefully in the next couple of years she'll reproduce.
 
Elephant Enthusiast said:
1.0 Aku and 0.1 Ginger were transferred from SeaWorld Orlando to the Indianapolis Zoo on November 13, 2019.
Welcome Two New Young Walrus - Indianapolis Zoo
Personal communication with the Indianapolis Zoo

0.1 Aurora was transferred from the Indianapolis Zoo to SeaWorld Orlando on November 13, 2019.
Welcome to Orlando, Aurora - Walrus Family | SeaWorld Orlando
What's Happening at SeaWorld Orlando - Blog | SeaWorld Orlando

1.0 Pakak was transferred from the Indianapolis Zoo to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on November 14, 2019.
Two orphaned walruses reunite - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

1.0 Mitik was transferred from SeaWorld San Diego to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on November 14, 2019.
Two orphaned walruses reunite - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

As predicted, Mitik and Pakak were moved to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. However, the transfer of Aurora to SeaWorld Orlando and the transfer of Ginger and Aku to the Indianapolis Zoo was a pleasant surprise. I'm glad Aurora is finally in a natural breeding situation, and hopefully in the next couple of years she'll reproduce.
Click to expand...

Have you any idea where Paira Daiza might get Walrus from for next year?
 
I’ve seen walruses at several institutions in Japan (Otaru, Kamogawa) where they have bred. They tend to leave the big tusks on. Are most captive walruses tuskless for safety reasons?
 
RatioTile said:
I’ve seen walruses at several institutions in Japan (Otaru, Kamogawa) where they have bred. They tend to leave the big tusks on. Are most captive walruses tuskless for safety reasons?
Click to expand...
No. Some walrus can be prone to rubbing away the enamel on their tusks from contact with the habitat, which then opens the tusks up to potential infection, which requires the removal to the tusk. Similarly, others have naturally more "porous" tusk enamel, which essentially turns them into bacteria sponges, requiring removal as well.

If a walrus is going to hurt or kill you, it won't be with its tusks, it'll be through drowning or sheer brute strength.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top