Walrus Spotted Off Fife Coast
A walrus was observed resting on rocks near Elie, off the coast of Fife, marking a "rare sighting" in the region. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) received the report of the animal on 31 January.
The marine wildlife charity chose not to publicize the sighting immediately to protect the walrus from potential disturbances. Volunteers noted that the walrus appeared healthy but expressed concerns that revealing its location could attract large crowds and drones, which have caused disturbances in previous incidents.
The BDMLR monitored the walrus throughout the day. They reported that the area remained calm and the animal was not disturbed. By the following morning, the walrus had left the site and has not been seen since.
Expert Insights on Walrus Visits
Emily Mayman, representing the BDMLR, spoke to BBC Scotland News about the occurrence of walruses in the UK and Europe.
"Walruses are rare but occasional visitors to the shores of the United Kingdom and wider Europe, with several individual animals recorded in recent years.
These animals originate from the Arctic, and their presence further south may be linked to environmental changes affecting their natural habitat, including the ongoing reduction in sea ice associated with climate change."
Mayman further explained that young, male Atlantic walruses are the most likely to roam and can travel extensive distances.
"When they appear in the United Kingdom, minimising disturbance is exceptionally important, as these animals may already be fatigued from extended journeys and require prolonged periods of undisturbed rest to recover before moving onwards,"
she said.
She also noted that although walruses are not native to the UK, they are protected under UK law, and any disturbance is prohibited.
Previous Walrus Visitors and Public Impact
In recent years, three notable walruses named Wally, Freya, and Thor have been recorded visiting the UK. These animals hauled out in multiple locations and stayed for weeks, attracting significant public attention and necessitating intensive management efforts by the BDMLR, other organisations, and authorities.
A spokesperson for the BDMLR commented on the challenges faced during these visits.
"Sadly, incidents of disturbance still occurred despite the presence of volunteers, police and statutory body staff as a small minority of people wilfully ignored cordons and direct advice on watching respectfully,"
the spokesperson said.
After their UK visits, Wally and Thor were later sighted in Iceland, while Freya moved on to Norway. Unfortunately, Norwegian authorities euthanized Freya.
The BDMLR criticised the Norwegian response, stating that authorities failed to implement crowd control measures and justified the action by claiming the walrus posed a danger to people, despite no aggressive behavior being observed.
The spokesperson expressed hope regarding the recent sighting.
"We hope this latest individual has moved northwards back towards the normal habitat for this species and is able to continue their journey safely without intervention,"
the spokesperson added.
