Featured Image: Ocean Wise via Source.
By: Sarah Sharkey
The Vancouver Aquarium is now home to two young walruses. The playful pair, Lakina and Balzak, were
the first to be born in human care in Canada. Last winter, the two walruses moved from an aquarium in
Quebec to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Although they have been at the aquarium for several months, they were not on display to the public
until late this summer.
Dr. David Rosen, with the University of British Columbia, is studying the walruses. According to Rosen,
these animals are the “poster child for climate change.” He had this to say about the animals, “With all
apologies to the polar bears but these guys have very specific needs for what kind of ice they need and
we know that ice is changing in the north. They have very specific food requirements and we know that
the prey fields are going to change as the temperature in the water changes and the pH of the water
changes.”
The research he is conducting on these two walruses may really help future populations of wild
walruses. Rosen is attempting to predict what will happen to these animals as the climate changes. The
walruses in aquariums around the world will help scientists make better management decisions as these
animals find themselves under more pressure in the wild.
Both walruses seem to have great personalities. It is worth a visit to see these two play with each other.
Learn more from the source.