First ever sighting of walrus in Ireland

[Eldorado]

A giant walrus the size of a dairy bull has landed on the rocks in Valentia Island in what is believed to be the first-ever sighting of the North Pole species in Ireland.

Local man Alan Houlihan and his five-year-old daughter Muireann spotted it breaching out of the water as they walked along Glanleam Beach on the Kerry island this morning.

Marine biologist Kevin Flannery believes the Arctic creature could have fallen asleep on an iceberg before being carried across the Atlantic ocean to Kerry.

Belfast Telegraph

[Still Waters]

 Walrus now spotted off Welsh coast

An Arctic walrus has been spotted off the coast of South Wales.

The RSPCA was called out to check on the welfare of the walrus, which had appeared on the Pembrokeshire coastline.

The walrus was first spotted a week earlier on rocks in County Kerry, Ireland, before seemingly making its way over to South Wales.

Animal rescue officer Ellie West said: “It seems this Arctic walrus has swum over to Wales and was resting on rocks when I went to check on him.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/arctic-walrus-spotted-off-welsh-114004182.html

[SHaYap]

"oh hello there, have you seen the carpenter? "

~

[Still Waters]

Pembrokeshire walrus seen 'basking in sun' in Tenby

As people travelled to beauty spots on the first day of lockdown easing in Wales, one walrus continued its jaunt around the Welsh coast.

The large creature was spotted basking in the sun on the RNLI's slipway at Tenby in Pembrokeshire on Saturday.

It is thought it is the same walrus seen around the west Wales coast at Broad Haven's South beach last weekend - and also at County Kerry in Ireland.

Walruses are more often seen in the North Pole or in the Arctic Ocean.

While there are believed to be about 20,000 in the North Atlantic, they are rarely seen in the UK and Ireland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56550854

[Still Waters]

Latest:

Arctic walrus pictured trying to board fishing boat in Tenby after capsizing dinghy

Wales' newly-adopted Arctic walrus has managed to sink a dinghy in its latest adventure after straying thousands of miles from home.

The latest pictures show the walrus capsizing a dinghy before attempting to climb onto a fishing boat moored in Tenby harbour.

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-03-30/arctic-walrus-pictured-trying-to-board-fishing-boat-in-tenby-after-capsizing-dinghy

[Still Waters]

Wally the walrus: Lifeboat crew use horn to budge animal

A lifeboat volunteer had to resort to using an air-horn to budge Wally the walrus off the station's slipway.

The hefty mammal was basking in the sun on Monday afternoon when Tenby RNLI lifeboat were called to respond to a potential emergency involving a canoe.

Despite one crew member's best efforts to shoo Wally with a brush, the sturdy sea creature was not budging.

Photographer Martyn Sidwell, from Middlesbrough, said Wally had been resting after five days out at sea.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56940239

[ThereWeAreThen]

Wales is clearly more beautiful thats why the walrus doesn't want to leave.

[Still Waters]

Wally is doing the rounds 

Wally the Walrus: Arctic animal spotted for first time in Cornwall

A walrus has been spotted off the coast of Cornwall for the first time.

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."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57173225

[SHaYap]

Wally wanted to visit before brexit kicks off for real... 

~

[Still Waters]

He's off on his travels again 

Wally the walrus heads south from the UK to France

Many of us have hardly travelled at all this year, but one wandering walrus appears to be exploring far and wide.

The animal, known as Wally, has been seen chilling on rocks off the coast of Ireland, and became something of a tourist attraction in Pembrokeshire.

Now photos have emerged appearing to show him basking on rocks in western France.

His latest adventure means he is now about 2,000 miles south of his home in the Arctic Circle.

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

[Myles]

30 minutes ago, Still Waters said:

He's off on his travels again 

Wally the walrus heads south from the UK to France

Many of us have hardly travelled at all this year, but one wandering walrus appears to be exploring far and wide.

The animal, known as Wally, has been seen chilling on rocks off the coast of Ireland, and became something of a tourist attraction in Pembrokeshire.

Now photos have emerged appearing to show him basking on rocks in western France.

His latest adventure means he is now about 2,000 miles south of his home in the Arctic Circle.

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

His family is gonna be mad.

[+susieice]

Wally is really taking the full tour. Maybe he's decided he likes the warmer weather.

[+susieice]

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by susieice

[+susieice]

Wally is going into warmer waters. He's now being seen in Spain.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wally-walrus-heading-south-been-20749513

[+susieice]

Wally seems to be enjoying his vacation as he travels along the north coast of Spain. He is in good condition so he must be finding an ample food supply as he goes along. That's the most important thing. Here's a picture of him catching some sun on a small boat near Santander, Spain.

https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/19356156.new-photo-wally-tenby-walrus-perfect-condition-euro-tour/

Here's some more pictures and video with more links in France.

https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/19352689.wallys-hot-water-latest-walrus-siting-plus-new-video/?fbclid=IwAR1LPA5HxcbFc4xs8HQcyQooM6lU6CGAdJ

Edited June 10, 2021 by susieice

[Still Waters]

Wally the walrus being disturbed around Isles of Scilly, say marine managers

An Arctic Walrus who has been in the Isles of Scilly for the past week is "regularly being disturbed by vessels and the public".

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) reminded people all walruses were protected by law.

Wally the walrus has been seen on boats and rocks on St Mary's and St Martin's, with some people keen to get close.

A petition has also been set up entitled "Get Wally the walrus home".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57607799

[+susieice]

So Wally is heading back north again and is off the coast of England. He's toured pretty far south for a walrus. I hope people will leave him alone and let him go where his path takes him.

[+and-then]

I think Wally's ultimate destination is Majorca   

[+susieice]

He's shown he can feed and thrive for a walrus well south of the Arctic Circle. He doesn't need icebergs. I wonder if warmer water along the Spanish coast is what got him to turn back north. Of course, that may not be what happened. He might enjoy the Mediterranean. He does seem to like sunning himself. People need to keep their distance and just watch and enjoy. We're probably the only natural enemy he has here. I'm not sure about sharks or if he's ever even encountered one up in the far north.

Edited June 27, 2021 by susieice

[+susieice]

Oh no! Wally is getting himself into big trouble. Apparently he's been sinking or damaging boats on St Mary's and St Martin in the isles of Scilly. 

https://nypost.com/2021/07/02/officials-to-cancel-wally-the-walruss-uk-tour-over-boat-destruction/

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/wally-walrus-forced-out-isles-5606222

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has worked with a number of organisations including conservation groups, Devon and Cornwall Police, RNLI, and the harbour authority on the plan to entice Wally away from the harbour on St Mary's, the largest of the island group 28 miles (45km) off Cornwall.

Their statement said: "Unfortunately, his presence in a commercial harbour within an island community is posing huge risks, first to himself, and to livelihoods but potentially human safety."

Capture and relocation was "not warranted" said Mr Jarvis and would be an "extremely difficult and potentially dangerous option for the walrus and for any handlers involved".

Edited July 6, 2021 by susieice

[+susieice]

A couple spent 20 minutes trying to persuade Wally to get off their boat and find another place to rest. 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/couples-20-minute-effort-encourage-20948887

[+susieice]

Authorities are going to try and use the sounds and scents of polar bears to encourage Wally to leave the Scilly harbor.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/polar-bear-plan-to-send-wally-the-walrus-packing-m8jkhns0w

[+susieice]

Wally is having problems dealing with the heat wave. People have been warned to give him space.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-22/wally-the-walrus-is-suffering-in-the-heatwave-on-the-isles-of-scilly

A customised pontoon marked with his scent has been built for him while he stays near the Isles of Scilly, to allow him to rest safely.

Disturbing him is now a criminal offense.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wally-walrus-struggles-heat-brits-24590230

[Still Waters]

Wally the walrus departs Isles of Scilly and heads north

After spending the summer wowing British holidaymakers – and sometimes making a nuisance of himself by accidentally sinking boats – Wally the walrus appears to be trying to head home.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said on Tuesday that Wally had departed the Isles of Scilly, where he had been in residence since June, and there has been a positive sighting of him in the waters off Ireland.

Marine experts hope that the creature is on his way back to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

Lizzi Larbalestier, of BDMLR, said it was good news that Wally had left Scilly. “Hopefully he will continue to move. It’s good that he’s moving north,” she said. The BDMLR is not saying exactly where he has been spotted because they do not want anyone to pursue him. “We don’t want hundreds of people trying to find him,” said Larbalestier.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/03/wally-the-walrus-departs-isles-of-scilly-heads-north

[Still Waters]

Wally the walrus to get his own pontoon

A pontoon is being prepared for Wally the walrus in an effort to stop him from sinking more boats.

The walrus first made waves in Ireland when he was spotted in County Kerry in March.

The 800kg (125st) walrus has since travelled 4,000km (2,485 miles) and been spotted in France, Spain and the UK.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said he was sinking one or two boats in every harbour he enters.

He was most recently spotted at Crookhaven Harbour in County Cork on Wednesday.

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