Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World

Feature:
Irreplaceable Wildlife in A Warming World
Graphic of irreplacable species, emperor penguin.
We are connected to each other, to our environment. From faraway places to our own backyard. But climate change is now changing the Earth as we know it, and animals and plants from the Arctic to the Everglades are feeling the consequences.
Key Resources:

Walrus

“I’ll be back soon!” Mother walruses often leave their pups on floating sea ice to rest while they dive to forage for food. Although 2,000 pounds may seem like a lot of walrus to move around, these animals are expert swimmers, spending days at sea feeding before using their long tusks to pull themselves onto sea ice, where they join hundreds of others to rest.
Photo Credit:
Norbert Rosing / ILCP (Part of Irreplaceable Wildlife Photo Exhibit)
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Walrus

Scientific Name: 
Odobenus rosmarus
IUCN Red List: 
No data
Endangered Species Act List: 
No data

Easily recognized by its two long, white tusks, the walrus is one of the largest pinnipeds in the world, with adult males weighing up to 3,700 pounds. Mother walruses often leave their pups on floating sea ice to rest while they dive to forage for food. Despite their hulking size and shape, these animals are expert swimmers, spending days at sea feeding before using their long tusks to pull themselves onto sea ice, where they join hundreds of other walruses to rest.

Climate Change Impacts

The retreat of sea ice from climate change spells big trouble for walrus. As neither long-distance swimmers or deep-sea divers, walrus greatly rely on sea ice for rest when they forage in shallow waters. As sea ice recedes, walruses are being forced to choose between rest and food. The retreat of the polar ice caps is also luring in industries like oil and gas drilling, whose practices further stress the species.

Irreplaceable in Your Neighborhood

The Earthjustice traveling photo exhibit, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World, is available to bring education, scholarship and research to your community. For more information on booking the exhibit, including fees, exhibit specifications, requirements and descriptions, please contact Nadine de Coteau at 1-800-584-6460.