This orphaned baby walrus, dubbed Little Miss Walrus, was found alone on a remote Alaskan beach, just one week old and covered in scratches. She’s now safe at the Alaska SeaLife Center, the only place in the U.S. equipped to care for orphaned walruses, and the 10th calf they’ve rescued since 1998.
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TRANSCRIPT
- [Caretaker] You lift.
All right, let's bring the cart closer.
- [Narrator] The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only place in the country to take in baby walruses.
10 orphans have come through its door since it opened in 1998.
And now, they have a new one.
- Wanna come on out?
(walrus barking) - [Narrator] This one-week-old baby was discovered alone on a beach in the far north of Alaska in 2024.
She's covered in scratches and puncture wounds, probably from rolling around on the rocky beach.
(walrus blows nose) - Ooh!
- Oh, got that on you.
- That got on you!
- Oh, yeah.
- [Narrator] She's a snotty-nosed kid.
- On video!
(laughs) - [Narrator] That's one way to get a sample!
(walrus barking) - [Carrie] I'm pretty confident this calf would not have made it.
She was clearly alone for a period of time.
She was already malnourished.
But the biggest sigh of relief I have was her being good about taking food from a bottle.
It makes a world of difference.
- [Narrator] It's a critical time for this baby walrus.
Three of their previous orphans were so ill that they died.
Few orphans are as lucky as Little Miss Walrus.
After a month at The Alaska SeaLife Center, things are looking up.
- [Jane] Her skin's looking much better.
Things are starting to heal, and she has energy.
We now have what was a sick, weak animal becoming very animated.
- [Narrator] Since she arrived here, Little Miss Walrus has put on 60 pounds.
She's ready to make a bigger splash.
- [Maddie] Come here!
Yay!
She really likes to do this little, throw yourself into the pool backwards thing.
And the look on her face is just like pure bliss.
- [Narrator] This orphan's rehabilitation is nearing its end.
It's time to move her to a permanent home.