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Author Topic: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland  (Read 2789 times)

Niall Dollard

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Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« on: March 15, 2021, 01:03:17 AM »
Well outside of their usual range, a young exhausted arctic walrus made an appearance on Valentia Island. A very rare visitor.

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1203982/

P-maker

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2021, 10:43:09 AM »
Maybe it was one of it's cousins, which paid a visit to the northern part of Denmark during 17th-18th February this year:

https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/thisted/sensationel-hvalros-er-dukket-op-paa-stranden-i-vorupoer

Apparently, this type of visitors from Svalbard/NE Greenland shows up every 10 years on average.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2021, 10:51:54 AM by P-maker »

Niall Dollard

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2021, 12:19:48 AM »
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group stated that this was only the third validated sighting of a walrus in Ireland since 1999.

It's theorised it arrived via a melting iceberg.

The Walrus

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2021, 12:47:13 AM »
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group stated that this was only the third validated sighting of a walrus in Ireland since 1999.

It's theorised it arrived via a melting iceberg.

Awesome :)

Niall Dollard

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2021, 02:44:14 AM »
6 days later and the same walrus has now been spotted in Wales !
https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1205199/

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2021, 03:21:41 AM »
Coming to a shore near you.


WALRUS WORLD TOUR! ;D

gerontocrat

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Re: Walrus on Tour - Ireland, Wales and now Cornwall
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2021, 04:35:48 PM »
the Walrus has arrived in Cornwall

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57173225
Wally the Walrus: Arctic animal spotted for first time in Cornwall


Cornwall Wildlife Trust said the sighting off Padstow on Wednesday was the first of a walrus, an Arctic animal, in the area
Quote
Cornwall Wildlife Trust said the sighting of the Arctic animal off Padstow was "absolutely a first".

It is thought to be the same walrus that was spotted in Pembrokeshire earlier this year who has become known as Wally.

Nathaniel Barry, who saw the walrus on a sea safari on Wednesday, said: "I've always wanted to see them but they are usually nowhere near Cornwall."


Mr Barry said the skipper first thought it was a grey seal: "It popped up maybe 10m (30ft) away from us and the first thing I saw were these tusks.

"I was just in shock. It's the first time I believe that anyone in Cornwall has seen a walrus."

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Niall Dollard

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2021, 10:15:05 PM »
The same walrus (dubbed Wally) is believed to have been spotted today at Höfn southeast Iceland. He hadnt been seen for 22 days.

Looks like he is on his way back to Svalbard !

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/animal-activists-over-the-moon-as-wally-the-walrus-is-on-his-way-home-after-being-spotted-in-iceland-40870503.html

The Walrus

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2021, 10:45:39 PM »
The same walrus (dubbed Wally) is believed to have been spotted today at Höfn southeast Iceland. He hadnt been seen for 22 days.

Looks like he is on his way back to Svalbard !

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/animal-activists-over-the-moon-as-wally-the-walrus-is-on-his-way-home-after-being-spotted-in-iceland-40870503.html

Let's here it for Wally.

Jim Hunt

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2021, 11:04:52 PM »
How many Wally threads are there? As previously reported, by the end of May Wally was sunbathing on the West coast of France:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57282281

By the middle of June he was heading north again and had arrived in the Isles of Scilly:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57513381

Attempting to climb on to assorted boats he injured both himself and the boats. Allegedly recorded polar bear growls were used to persuade him to move on:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57712917

It seems that worked, because by a month ago he was to be found off County Cork:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58279480

Next stop Bear Island?
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P-maker

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2022, 09:08:12 AM »
Two sightings of Walrus in Denmark already this year.

Following an extended period of Northerly winds this Spring, Danish newspapers report no less than two occasions involving two separate animals visiting Danish shores this year:

https://politiken.dk/indland/art8775245/Lone-troede-næsten-ikke-sine-egne-øjne-Hvalros-er-svømmet-i-land-på-Læsø

Speculations as to why we see this abundance of Arctic animals in Danish waters will continue.


The Walrus

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Re: Walrus lands on island off the west coast of Ireland
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2022, 02:28:39 PM »
Awesome!