At first glance, the walrus looks like a creature built for intimidation. Massive body, long ivory tusks, wrinkled skin, and a thick moustache of stiff whiskers—it hardly seems approachable. Yet beneath that rugged exterior is a surprisingly social, intelligent, and even gentle animal that plays a vital role in the Arctic ecosystem.
Walruses have lived in the frozen north for thousands of years, adapting to one of the harshest environments on Earth. Their story is not just about survival, but about balance—between strength and vulnerability, tradition and change.
Built for Ice, Water, and Endurance
A full-grown walrus can weigh over a ton, yet it moves through icy waters with ease. Its body is designed for insulation: a thick layer of blubber keeps it warm in subzero temperatures, while its skin—often mottled pink or brown—thickens over time like natural armor.
The walrus’s most famous feature, its tusks, are not just for show. These elongated canine teeth serve multiple purposes. Walruses use them to haul their heavy bodies onto ice, to establish dominance within social groups, and occasionally to defend against predators like polar bears. Contrary to popular belief, tusks are rarely used aggressively; more often, they are tools of survival and communication.
Perhaps the most fascinating feature is the walrus’s whiskers, known as vibrissae. These stiff, sensitive hairs help the animal detect clams and other prey buried deep in the seafloor. A walrus doesn’t hunt by sight—it “feels” its meals.
A Social Life on the Ice
Walruses are not loners. They gather in large groups called haul-outs, often resting shoulder to shoulder on ice floes or rocky shores. These gatherings can include hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individuals. The scene is noisy, chaotic, and surprisingly cooperative.
Within these groups, walruses communicate through a variety of sounds—grunts, bell-like tones, and low roars. Physical contact is common and important. Touch helps reinforce social bonds and maintain group stability, especially among mothers and calves.
Young walruses stay close to their mothers for years, learning migration routes and feeding grounds. This extended care is unusual in the animal kingdom and reflects the complexity of walrus social behavior.
Feeding the Ocean Floor
Despite their size, walruses are not fierce predators. Their diet mainly consists of bottom-dwelling organisms like clams, mussels, snails, and worms. A single walrus can consume thousands of clams in one feeding session, using powerful suction to pull the meat from shells.
This feeding behavior benefits the ecosystem. By disturbing the seafloor, walruses help recycle nutrients, supporting other marine life. In this way, they act as underwater gardeners, shaping the environment without even trying.
Climate Change: A Growing Threat
For centuries, walruses relied on stable sea ice as resting platforms between feeding dives. Today, that ice is disappearing at an alarming rate. As the Arctic warms, walruses are forced to haul out on land more frequently, often in overcrowded conditions.
These land-based haul-outs come with risks. Stampedes—triggered by predators, loud noises, or human activity—can crush calves and weaker individuals. Longer swims between feeding areas and resting spots also increase exhaustion, especially for young walruses.
Climate change does not attack the walrus directly; instead, it slowly removes the foundations of its way of life.
Humans and Walruses: A Complicated History
Walruses have long been hunted by Indigenous Arctic communities for food, tools, and clothing. These traditional practices were sustainable and deeply respectful of the animal. Problems arose when commercial hunting expanded, driven by demand for ivory, oil, and hides.
Today, walruses are protected in many regions, and populations have stabilized in some areas. Still, industrial activity, shipping routes, and resource exploration continue to pose challenges.
More Than a Symbol of the Arctic
The walrus is often portrayed as a cartoonish figure—grumpy, slow, or comical. In reality, it is a symbol of resilience and interdependence. Its survival is closely tied to the health of the Arctic, making it a powerful indicator of environmental change.
Protecting walruses means protecting sea ice, marine ecosystems, and the delicate balance of the far north. When the walrus struggles, the Arctic is telling us something—and it’s worth listening.
