CNN — The Alaska SeaLife Center reports the death of a rare walrus calf that had been in constant care since it was found alone in the Arctic. “We are heartbroken to share that the walrus calf admitted to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program on August 1, 2023, passed away this morning after his condition took a turn for the worse,” the center said in a press release on Friday. Despite “round-the-clock critical care treatments” from the institute’s “animal care teams,” the calf “ultimately succumbed to his condition,” the center claimed. The cause of death will be determined after a necropsy is performed.
The Alaska SeaLife Center originally stated that on August 1 a Pacific walrus calf, roughly a month old at the time of its arrival, was brought in from the North Slope of Alaska, roughly four miles inland from the Beaufort Sea. Since Pacific walruses are normally located in the ocean or along the western coastline, officials noted that the location where the approximately 140-pound calf was discovered was highly rare.
The first two years of a walrus calf’s existence are spent dependent on their moms, and the center reports that there were no other walruses nearby when the calf was discovered. It was said that the veterinary staff was worried about the animal’s hazy eye, lack of appetite, and dehydration. He was dehydrated and maybe fighting an infection, according to his blood work.
According to the facility, the calf needs frequent snuggling to help him remain calm and the veterinarian has ordered this so that he can grow up healthy. While saving wild animals is usually a satisfying experience, there is always the risk of tragedy. The institution stated on Friday that this is the most challenging aspect of caring for animals full-time.
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