Walrus currently in captivity

Belgium has closed its borders and is quite strict, so it will probably wait until after these restrictions are lifted...

 

According to this nice video, "Tanya"at Hagenbeck COULD be and is probably pregnant:

Hagenbecks Tierpark hofft auf Walross-Nachwuchs

 

I wonder if this will affect her transfer to Paira Daiza?

Walrus' eyes often look 'milky'- is this normal or a product of the water condition in zoos?

 

I expect Tanya to move to Belgium later this year, so transportation shouldn't be a problem. Of course, you should avoid transport at a higher stage of pregnancy, but as the example of Zurich shows recently, this can also work without problems. Just why do they send a highly rhinoceros from Israel to Europe at all?

Dull eyes in seals are mostly due to the fact that the animals are kept permanently in fresh water. I've seen that in Walrusses a few times before - could also be cataracts.

 

Extremely exciting news, the first walrus pup of the year in on the ground in North America!

And it is at.....Marineland! Amazingly, Smooshi and Apollo bred shortly before Apollo's death, the result being a male pup born June 1st. This is amazing news for the North American population, as both Smooshi and Apollo are unrepresented founders, making this pup INCREDIBLY genetically valuable.

 

Are all walruses kept in captivity outside of Russia Pacific walruses, or are there some Atlantic ones too?

 

Only 2 atlantics total, 1 in Canada and 1 in Russia.

 

Are all generic walruses not labeled to ssp. Pacifics, or might some be hybrids?

 

In the US all are Pacific.

~Thylo

 

A calf has been born in Thailand: Login • Instagram

This brings the total number of known, publicized pregnancies in 2020 to five; one miscarriage and four liveborn pups.

 

Walruses in Thailand? Won't they be suffering in that humidity?

 

Walruses are resistant to all types of moisture.

 

I guess I should be more concerned about the heat

 

In the fossil record were any walruses tropical? In general very few pinnipeds have colonized the tropics; I wonder why?

 

I frankly have no idea about walruses living in the tropics during prehistoric times, that's not my area of specialized knowledge.

 

there fossil record goes as far a nothern Mexico, so in the sub tropics, for why there were less tropic penipeds. Iam not an expert on that topic. But the fact that the tropics have less food is the major reason. With the only tropic region with historic and living populations on a major scale was the west coast of south america (Peru,Equador). Mostly because it has cold, oxygen rich waters unlike most tropical regions. An other reason would be less competition. Not even that far ago much more sea creaturesm like more diverse whales, many diffrent sharks, sea cows, turtles and even marine crocodiles were verys succesfull. And the colder regions being far less competiton with many other kinds of animals.

 

But northern Mexico wasn't sub-tropical 28,000 years ago. Regardless of "being resistant to all types of moisture" (most, if not all aquatic/semi-aquatic mammals will be by definition), the heat will not be doing the Walruses in Thailand any favors sadly. There's a reason they were pushed back to the Arctic come the end of the last glacial period.

~Thylo

 

Is the Thai walrus population kept outdoors or in an indoor exhibit like the ones at the SeaWorlds?

 

SeaWorld SD has an open topped Walrus exhibit if i remember right.

 

The exhibit is outdoors with enclosed indoor holding

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