A migrating walrus has wowed locals and tourists alike after its appearance in a Yorkshire seaside town.
The marine mammal arrived in Scarborough on Friday night and drew large crowds to the harbor on New Year’s Eve.
The Arctic walrus is believed to be Thor – the same animal spotted off the Hampshire coast earlier this month.
Local wildlife experts have asked people not to disturb the animal, saying it is “living as if it is taking a break” in Scarborough and will move on in a few days when it is sufficiently rested to continue its journey north.
The marine mammal arrived in Scarborough on Friday night and drew large crowds to the harbor on New Year’s Eve
It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire and a cordon has been put in place to prevent excited crowds from getting too close.
Resident Richard Coulson, 51, said: “I live just round the corner from where it is actually and the traffic going up and down our street – it’s like a summer’s day, it’s buzzing with cars and people. It it’s amazing how much attention it got.
“It’s well secured – it’s cordoned off so you can’t get closer than 20 feet.
“This is the first time I’ve seen one. It’s big. We see seals around the Scarborough coast quite often, but something this size is huge.
“You respect nature when you see something like this. His fangs are bigger than my arms.”
The Arctic walrus is believed to be Thor – the same animal spotted off the Hampshire coast earlier this month
Local wildlife experts have asked people not to disturb the animal and say it looks like it will “break” at Scarborough and move on in a few days once it has rested enough to continue its journey north.
It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire and a cordon has been put in place to prevent excited crowds from getting too close
Stuart Ford, who runs boat tour agency Sealife Safari, said: “I went to my boat and there it was on the slide – beautiful. It must be half a ton.
“I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, the very first thing you see in Scarborough.”
An adult male walrus can weigh a ton and a half (about 3,000 pounds) and be up to 12 feet long.
Sea Life Scarborough Aquarium said the animal care team was monitoring the walrus’ situation with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
They wrote on social media: “Please don’t worry – he looks great and is taking a well deserved break after his long adventure!
“Please respect his peace and try not to disturb him. Although this is a very exciting opportunity for us, they obviously do not like a lot of noise and are not familiar with pets, so please keep pets on a lead and maintain a safe distance for your own safety and theirs .
RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond, who was with the walrus on Friday night and Saturday morning, said it did not appear to be sick or injured and urged people to enjoy the sight from a respectful distance
Mr Edmond said: “We understand that it is exciting and unusual for the walrus to take up a temporary enclosure, but it is in its best interests to be left alone as much as possible, so we are asking people to remember that it is a wild animal and avoid the temptation to approach and disturb it.
Sea Life Scarborough Aquarium said the animal care team was monitoring the walrus’ situation with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue
“Hopefully in a few days he will have enough rest to move on and continue his adventures north!”
RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond, who was with the walrus on Friday night and Saturday morning, said it did not appear to be sick or injured and urged people to enjoy the sight from a respectful distance.
Mr Edmond said: “We understand that it is exciting and unusual for the walrus to take up a temporary enclosure, but it is in its best interests to be left alone as much as possible, so we are asking people to remember that it is a wild animal and avoid the temptation to approach and disturb it.
“We also want to remind everyone that the walrus is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so disturbing the animal can be a criminal offence.”
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
