The Arctic Wanderer

Photograph by @wildintrigue

This month Northumberland has been graced by a long distance wanderer, a Walrus!

Usually found in the far North, in the Arctic Ocean, and subarctic seas, very occasionally a lost Walrus will turn up in the UK, usually on the Scottish Islands, or the coast of Ireland. However, this juvenile wanderer is thought to be the first Walrus ever spotted in Northumberland.

Last year a Walrus called 'Wally' toured the western UK, and France before returning home to the far North. We now know this visitor is a Walrus called 'Freya' who has recently spent time asleep on a submarine in the Netherlands.

The female, identified by injuries to her flippers, is thought to be making her way to colder waters, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said. They said they believed the newly-spotted marine mammal was "stocking up her blubber stores" ahead of her journey back to colder shores and was probably attracted to the Northumberland Coast because of its rich food stocks.

Whilst Freya hasn’t been seen since Monday, it is common for the animals to disappear for several days at a time while hunting for food. It is possible she could be out on the Farne Islands, where food is plentiful.

The BDMLR have done a remarkable job to make sure that Freya was left undisturbed to rest during her time on the Northumberland Coast, whilst providing the opportunity for people to watch and photograph this magnificent mammal ethically and respectably. They urge people that if Freya does return to Seahouses Harbour, to only observe her from at least 100m away to ensure she is not disturbed.

Please visit www.bdmlr.org.uk to find out more about their incredible work.

The climate crisis is having a huge impact on the Arctic and the sea ice that Walrus depend upon, so this rare visitor may become a more frequent sighting in the UK. You can help develop a better understanding of how the climate crisis is effecting Walrus populations with WWF Walrus from Space project.