Aerial survey of walrus haul-out sites in west Spitsbergen and Moffen

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Cruwys, E., Weinstein, Dan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1993
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Svalbard; Moffen; Odobenus rosmarus; Polar Record; Spitsbergen; walrus*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400023214; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400023214

ABSTRACT In July 1992 two aerial surveys were conducted to assess the size of the walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) population at haul-out sites reported on the northwest coast of Spitsbergen and on Moffen. Walrus have been extensively hunted in Svalbard during the past 350 years, and in 1952 concern about decreasing stocks caused the Norwegian government to pass a law protecting the animals from hunting. At the time of the survey, it is likely that the walrus would have been at some stage of the moult, and it is tentatively suggested that the physiological changes reported to take place during moulting can cause lethargy and sluggishness that may make walrus less susceptible to disturbance by engine noise. Thirty-seven walrus were counted on the survey around Moffen, and three walrus on the northwest coast of Spitsbergen three days later.