Walrus Network

Captive walrus record-keeping. website

[walrusnetwork]

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[walrusnetwork]

Izumi departed from the Oita Marine Palace Aquarium on February 7th, 11:15 JST and was expected to arrive to the Toba Aquarium early in the morning of February 8th, where she will go on public display that same day. The 13-year-old female walrus will remain in Toba for three months on breeding loan.⁣

There Izumi will be paired with their 13-year-old bull, Pou -- the two walruses were purchased by their respective facilities from the same dealer on the same day, and were among several walruses to be the very last imported into Japan in December of 2005.⁣

Prices for wild-caught walrus pups have been driven up in the last decade by an increase in Chinese aquariums; once a million yen, bidding now begins at 100 million yen and may go into the several hundred millions due to competition from Chinese facilities.⁣

Interestingly, the source states that two walruses have been born at Toba -- only one pup is known to me at this time, having been born in 2016 and explicitly stated by the aquarium to have been the first birth for their bull Pou and cow Kuu. In June of 2018 it was announced in the Mainichi Shimbun that the aquarium's walrus performance had been temporarily cancelled, due in part to "the possibility of pregnancy" from Kuu.⁣

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM275252M27TPJB00S.html

[walrusnetwork]

Tomorrow, February 7th, 13-year-old female #walrus Izumi will be transferred from the Oita Marine Palace Aquarium to Toba Aquarium for the duration of a three month breeding loan, as part of a larger collaboration established in June of 2018 among Japanese facilities to pursue a stable and self-sustaining population of walruses in human care. ⁣

1,389 lb Izumi was chosen among the aquarium's three females for her relatively light weight, facilitating ease of transport, as well as for health considerations. Also housed at the aquarium, commonly known as Umitamago, are 17-year-old females Mii and Bubu.⁣

Izumi will be paired with Toba's 14-year-old bull Pou, who fathered a single calf born in 2016 -- the calf passed away several days later due to "a congenital anomaly of the circulatory system". Also housed at Toba are two cows, 14-year-old long-term resident Kuu, mother of the aforementioned calf, and 9-year-old Tsurara, who was born at the Otaru Aquarium and joined Toba's herd on breeding loan in 2016.⁣

https://oita-press.co.jp/1010000000/2019/02/06/131416785

[walrusnetwork]

Further information has been released regarding the six walrus pups housed at Srednyaya Bay. ⁣

The months old walruses have been confirmed to be a male and five females. All animals are still present on site, presumably pending export to China.

Though their destination has not yet been explicitly confirmed, 50 Largha seals also housed at the Bay have been cleared for export to Tianjin Haichang Polar Ocean Park since early January -- It is estimated that the vast majority of the animals on site, including cetaceans in addition to the pinnipeds, are intended for export to China. ⁣

Information was also released regarding permits being issued for the capture of 30 Pacific walruses. No time reference for the permits was given, and as of this time I have no information regarding whether these animals have already been collected or will be in the near future.⁣

https://www.uralinform.ru/interviews/society/304330-kitovaya-tyurma-v-primore-kak-jivotnyh-prevrashayut-v-rabov/⁣

https://www.newsvl.ru/vlad/2019/01/31/177698/

[walrusnetwork]

Coming soon to Pairi Daiza will be 'la Terra du Nord', a themed area featuring walruses and polar bears among other species.⁣

Totalling over 75,000 square feet, the area is planned to open in 2019. While I have not yet seen information on the planned #walrus exhibit, their holding areas will span over 9,500 square feet.⁣

https://www.lesoir.be/171779/article/2018-08-06/pairi-daiza-devoile-son-projet-de-la-terre-du-froid⁣

https://www.dhnet.be/regions/tournai-ath-mouscron/pairi-daiza-la-terre-du-froid-ne-fait-pas-l-unanimite-5b86d30fcd700399a0fb71b3⁣

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/bientot-ours-blancs-pairi-daiza-pourquoi-projet-fait-polemique-belgique-1614275.html

[walrusnetwork]

Nausicaá has announced that, following news of EU funding, they will begin the second phase of the aquarium's expansion with the addition of The Land of Polar Auroras in two to three years, with the public opening expected to follow a year later.⁣⁣

The expansion will feature walrus and penguin exhibits within the theming of an Inuit village, as well as 2D and 4D theaters.⁣⁣

http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/526312/article/2019-01-23/c-est-acte-la-nouvelle-extension-de-nausicaa-verra-bien-le-jour

[walrusnetwork]

The European Union is set to provide 17 million euros in funding to Nausicaá of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France via its European Regional Development Fund. ⁣

In addition to expanding the facility, plans are also in place to fund scientific research as well as renovations towards energy and water efficiency. ⁣

Included in the expansions will be The Land of Polar Auroras, a themed area featuring a walrus exhibit. Nausicaá has expressed intentions to house the species since 2012, and in May of 2018 announced a projected opening date of 2021 for the expansions to the facility.⁣

While the aquarium initially stated in 2012 that it planned to receive four or five wild caught Alaskan calves to house in a 2500 m³ exhibit, current specifications have not yet been made public. ⁣

📰: https://ec.europa.eu/france/news/20190122/l-europe_investit_nausicaa_fr⁣

📷: https://www.tourismepro-nordpasdecalais.fr/2017/01/17/nausic%C3%A0a/

[walrusnetwork]

It has been confirmed that six #walrus pups -- collected from Chukotka in 2018 and now housed at Srednyaya Bay in Russia -- will be exported to China.⁣

While I have no information regarding where they will be transferred to at this time, it is known that permits were released in early January for the export of fifty Largha seals, also held on site, to Tianjin Haichang Polar Ocean Park.⁣

There are a minimum of six Chinese facilities which have expressed intent to house walruses in the last few years. Twenty-two other facilities in the country currently house herds or single animals, with a minimum of 46 walruses maintained across China.⁣

https://www.newsvl.ru/vlad/2019/01/21/177345/

[walrusnetwork]

Additional update regarding #walrus Zeus:⁣⁣

Marineland has reported that he passed away on December 26th, 2018. A necropsy was performed which indicated a cause of death due to heart failure. A report on the procedure was "provided to the Animal Care Committee pursuant to the strict Ontario Marine Mammal Care regulations."⁣⁣

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/marineland-mourns-the-passing-of-zeus-the-walrus-816717243.html

[walrusnetwork]

Former marine mammal trainer Phil Demers confirmed today the death of 16-year-old #walrus Zeus at Marineland of Canada. A loss within the park's walrus herd was initially announced on January 9th. ⁣⁣

Zeus's death leaves 16-year-old bull Apollo and 15-year-old cow Smooshi at the Ontario attraction, which has housed walruses under its care since 2001. ⁣⁣

My thoughts go out to those affected by this loss.

[walrusnetwork]

Following a period of trial operation, Sanya Haichang Fantasy Town has held their grand opening on January 20th, 2019. The park houses at least one walrus which arrived to the facility earlier in the month.

While I have no further information on this individual at this time, it is worth noting that Haichang has ownership over one of, if not the, largest known collection of walruses in the world across their parks, numbering 21 individuals in 2013.

[walrusnetwork]

Tierparrk Hagenbeck's two month old #walrus pup has passed away.

As with her first pup, his mother Dyna was unable to nurse him due to mastitis. Despite initial weight gain once started on the artificial formula that his sibling was successfully raised on, the pup ultimately failed to thrive and his health declined. His body was discovered early in the morning of September 1st.

📰: http://www.hagenbeck.de/nc/tierpark/aktuell/news/news/sorge-um-das-walrossbaby.html

📷: https://www.bild.de/regional/hamburg/hamburg-aktuell/alle-hoffnung-war-vergebens-walross-baby-ist-tot-57003540.bild.html

[walrusnetwork]

@ptdefiancezoo-blog has announced that 25-year-old walrus Dozer will be leaving their facility mid-September. Park guests will have the opportunity to see him featured during Keeper Talks on September 14th and 15th at 3pm, the weekend before his departure.

This will conclude Dozer's second consecutive breeding season at Point Defiance -- both visits resulted in successful mating with all three of the park's female walruses, but thus far no pups have resulted. The zoo will not be able to confirm any potential pregnancies until fall.

https://www.pdza.org/farewell-dozer/

[walrusnetwork]

The first photo has been released of Nanning Rongji Polar Ocean World’s walrus – an additional photo uploaded by a park guest shows the same individual.

Though there is no further information on this animal, it bears a physical resemblance to an adult bull and long-term resident of Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park. Though this suspicion hasn’t yet been confirmed, both facilities are under the management of Haichang Group, and Dalian has in the past supplied walruses to newly constructed sister parks.

I have thus far not seen conclusive evidence of any additional walruses housed at Nanning, which opens to the general public tomorrow, August 18th. Further updates will be posted as I learn more.

http://www.nnnews.net/news/201808/t20180817_2067970.html

[walrusnetwork]

Kinosaki Marine World has confirmed that 28-year-old walrus Den passed away on April 20th, 2018 due to intestinal torsion. His death leaves two females at the park; Den’s 21-year-old tankmate Guri, and 13-year-old Sora, housed in a separate area of the park.⁣

Full statement below:⁣

Thank you for your inquiry.⁣ Den (male) died due to bowel disease (intestinal torsion) on April 20, 2018.⁣ We pray from the bottom of our hearts about Den ’s souls.⁣ And we are sincerely thankful to everyone who loved Den until now.⁣

お問合せありがとうございます。⁣ デンは2018年4月20日に腸疾患（腸捻転）により死亡いたしました。⁣ デンの冥福を心からお祈りするとともに、⁣ これまでデンを暖かく見守っていただいた皆様へ改めて感謝申し上げます。⁣

Kinosaki marine world⁣ 城崎マリンワールド

[walrusnetwork]

A media conference held yesterday at Nanning Rongji Polar Ocean World in China revealed that the facility currently houses at least one walrus on site. I thus far have no further information on these animals or their exhibit. This facility will open to the public on August 18th.

[walrusnetwork]

Tierpark Hagenbeck’s walrus pup, born June 17th and currently weighing 119 pounds, is now on public display in the park's Eismeer exhibit alongside his mother, Dyna.

A naming contest is currently being held for the pup, with the choices being Hodor, Halvar, or Snorre. Votes can be cast now at Hagenbeck's Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/tierpark.hagenbeck/app/157958697580988/

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Luettes-Walross-schwimmt-jetzt-im-Eismeer,walrossbaby106.html