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Thousands of people have answered the call from WWF and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to search for walrus in satellite images taken from space, as part of a project aimed to improve understanding of how walrus will be affected by the climate crisis. Today, on World Walrus Day, the organisations leading the project are calling for more ‘walrus detectives’ to get involved.Click here to find out more about the Walrus from Space project.Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus), Apalona Island, Svalbard, Norway
Photograph: Wim van Passel/WWF
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The data collected will give scientists a clearer picture of how each population is doing – without disturbing the animals. This is an example of a satellite image of an Atlantic walrus haul-out. From space they look like small or large groups of reddish or pale brown shapes that can be next to each other or a few metres away. This satellite image is 1.87 km2. On the Walrus from Space platform (hosted by Geohive) users will view images cropped to 0.04 km2
Photograph: WWF
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So far, citizen scientists have counted tens of thousands of satellite images to identify places where Atlantic walrus and walrus from the Laptev Sea are hauled out on land. The images are provided by space and intelligence company Maxar Technologies’ DigitalGlobe, and are taken by satellites like the one in this picture.WorldView-3 satellite used for taking satellite imagery of walrus haul-outs for the Walrus from Space project
Photograph: WWF
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Once all of the images have been analysed to determine whether walrus are present, the project will move to the next stage: counting the numbers of walrus in the images. This is expected to begin early in 2022.Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) hanging out in shallow water in Norway
Photograph: 10759/WWF
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With plans to undertake the count every year for five years, the data will help inform management decisions aimed at conservation efforts for the species, whose Arctic home is warming almost three times faster than the rest of the world, with summer sea ice being lost at a rate of around 13% per decade.A herd of walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) on an ice floe, Svalbard, Norway
Photograph: Richard Barrett/WWF
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Walrus use sea ice for resting and to give birth to their young. As sea ice diminishes, more walrus are forced to seek refuge on land more often, congregating for the chance to rest. Overcrowded beaches can have fatal consequences: walrus are easily frightened, and when spooked they stampede towards the water, trampling the young. Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) hauled-out in the fog on Matveev Island, Russia
Photograph: UILITTA/WWF
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Previous population estimates are based upon the best data and knowledge available, but there are challenges associated with working with marine mammals in such vast remote and often inaccessible places. This project will build upon the knowledge of Indigenous communities, using satellite technology to provide an up-to-date count of Atlantic and Laptev walrus populations.Walruses, Prontchistcheva bay, Laptev, Russia.
Photograph: Ebel Alexei/WWF
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Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF, said: ‘We are delighted to see people across the globe getting involved with this citizen science project, which will help improve our understanding of this iconic Arctic species. And there’s still plenty of opportunity for new walrus detectives to join the search and help to determine the way climate change is likely to impact walrus and other Arctic species.’ A herd of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada
Photograph: Jeff Higdon/WWF
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