Walruses

There are three subspecies of walrus (the Atlantic, Laptev and Pacific) distributed around the Arctic. They are specialized feeders whose preferred prey is generally clams but who will eat a variety of foods including most invertebrates found in shallow waters as well as occasionally squid, seals and seabirds. Walruses need ice floes or land close to their feeding areas to haul out on to rest and to breed. In years when there is less ice and the ice edge retreats beyond the continental shelf the water is too deep for walruses to feed and they must find alternative feeding sites. Reduced ice can also increase the number of walrus pups that get separated from their mothers thereby reducing their chance of survival. Scientists in Alaska and Russia have observed that reductions in suitable sea ice is causing more walruses to shift their haul-outs to land, where they may be at more risk of polar bear predation or disturbance by humans. Read more on Arctic wildlife and biodiversity.