Walrus

As one of the Arctic’s most iconic animals, walruses are easy to spot and recognise, defined by their long tusks and whiskers, which are highly sensitive and used to detect food on the seafloor.

Zodiac excursions and shore landings offer great opportunities to spot these creatures in their natural habitat. As they are particularly sensitive to disturbance, Zodiacs will approach slowly and quietly, as well as allowing lots of space between them and the animal as not to intrude.

Your onboard expert naturalists can offer fascinating insights into their behaviours and physical capabilities. They can be found all over the Arctic, from Svalbard to East Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.

These large creatures are known to be aggressive, displaying dominance against others of their kind to establish their authority. They are known to express themselves through loud vocalisations in social interactions, enter the water with surprising agility, use their tusks to pull themselves onto ice or rocks and congregate with large groups, known as ‘haul-outs’.