Animation of the 2009 Arctic ice cap melt season (NASA)
The retreat of sea ice caused by climate change forces walruses ashore, with deadly consequences
As arctic sea ice recedes far from the Russian and Alaskan coasts due to warmer temperatures caused be climate change, walruses – including females and their babies – are forced to take refuge on land.The animals congregate in large groups, known as "haul outs". These mass congregations are dangerous and can lead to violent stampedes that are often deadly, specially to young walruses.
As WWF's Nick Sundt reported on his climate blog: "just a couple days after Arctic sea ice receded to it's third lowest extent on record, forcing thousands of walruses ashore, a few researchers flying along the Alaska coast stumbled upon this grisly scene":
The video shows some of the 131 carcasses, mostly calves and yearlings, found dead in the end of September 2009.
An official government study that investigated the episode concluded that the "cause of death was consistent with trampling by other walruses."