Thor the walrus spotted on Iceland coast following visit to the UK

A walrus that visited the south and east coasts of England in December has now been noticed on a floating pier in east Iceland

By Carissa Wong

A wandering walrus nicknamed Thor has arrived in east Iceland following a latest go to to the UK.

The hefty mammal visited the Netherlands and Dieppe in northern France final yr earlier than he was noticed on the south coast of England round mid-December. He grew to become a sensation as a result of walruses are uncommon guests to the UK. He later travelled north to Scarborough, a city on the east coast of England, the place native individuals cancelled New Year’s Eve fireworks to keep away from distressing him.

Thor arrived on the Icelandic fishing city of Breiðdalsvík on 24 February, the place he turned his nostril up at frozen fish supplied by a harbour guard, based on the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RUV.

As within the UK, he has drawn the eye of native individuals, who’ve taken photographs of him whereas passing by. Walruses have been as soon as current round Iceland, however the native inhabitants was pushed to extinction centuries in the past.

Although Thor is an “amazing thing to see”, he must be left alone to relaxation in order to not expend vitality unnecessarily, Rod Downie at conservation charity WWF-UK, advised the BBC.

The walrus is considered an adolescent Atlantic walrus, aged between 3 and 5 years previous, who wandered south from the Canadian Arctic. He is now considered journeying again north to colder waters, taking rests on the best way. Fully grown male Atlantic walruses attain lengths of as much as 2.4 metres and weights of as much as 900 kilograms.

“After Thor’s visit to the UK we wondered if we would ever see him again,” a spokesperson from conservation charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue advised the BBC. “We are delighted to have been informed that he is in Iceland.”

Climate change and over-hunting means walruses are weak to extinction, based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A warming local weather will trigger the melting of Arctic sea ice on which the animals relaxation, breed and provides start.