Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 12 July 2017

Rx for orphan walrus calf: touch, massage, cuddle, repeat

By DAN JOLING kers to search for clams
Associated Press and other seafood on the
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ocean floor, according to
— Everybody needs a the Alaska Department of
shoulder to lean on now Fish and Game.
and then. A walrus calf at A sea otter, ringed seal and
the Alaska SeaLife Center two harbor seals also are
in Seward, Alaska, is getting receiving care. Most of the
one 24 hours a day. center’s rehabbed animals
Trained staff members, return to the wild but the
working in pairs, are touch- young walrus won’t be.
ing, massaging and cud- “We can care for this calf.
dling a calf all day and all We can take care of its
night as part of its recuper- health. We can give it
ation. The calf, estimated some good social interac-
to be about 6 weeks old, tion. But we cannot teach
was found last month with- that animal how to be an
out its mother several miles animal in the wild,” Gibbins
outside Nome. said. “That’s why they’re
Walrus are highly social non-releasable.”
and spend two years with No decision has been
their mothers, said Jenni- made on placement. The
fer Gibbins, marketing and SeaLife Center will deter-
communications director In this Wednesday, June 21, 2017, photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center shows a walrus calf mine what facility can give
in a quarantined pen as it’s cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center, in Seward, Alaska.
for the center. Associated Press it the best veterinary and
“They need constant con- social care.
tact,” Gibbins said. “Part of lograms) and was extreme- change in a short time,” she said. “This walrus needs to be
the caregiving is providing ly lethargic. Gibbins said. Walrus have practical rea- with other walrus,” she said.
that constant contact and “He was severely dehydrat- The cuddling is critical, Gib- sons for refined touching. The center expects to
tactile interaction. ed,” Gibbins said. “That was bins said. They use their hundreds of house the animal through
The calf was spotted in mid- really the first concern.” “One of the unique things short, highly sensitive whis- summer and into the fall.q
June on the deck of a min- The calf initially was fed with about walrus is that there
ing barge. The walrus was a tube down its throat that is a very high level of ma-
still on the barge the next sent food directly to the ternal investment with a
morning and the barge stomach. It was considered calf,” she said. “They are
crew summoned wildlife a hopeful sign when the with their moms for two
experts. animal began bottle feed- years in the wild.” Twenty
The SeaLife Center is dedi- ing about a week later. staff members have been
cated to marine research The calf now sucks down trained to be with the little
and education and fea- up to a liter of formula sev- guy. He leans on them and
tures a public aquarium. en times a day. sometimes lies on them.
It’s the only facility in Alaska As the calf rehydrated and Sometimes he sucks their
that holds a permit for ma- recuperated, he became arms. Gibbins calls it nurs-
rine mammal rescue and more active, curious and ing behavior.
rehabilitation. plump. He now weighs 143 “An infant human might
When the calf reached pounds (65 kilograms). be sucking on your fingers.
Seward on June 17, it “That’s a pretty dramatic That’s what they’re doing,”
weighed 120 pounds (54 ki-