14 DAY TRIAL // Alaska's northwest coast is now home to some 10,000 walruses that have gathered in the area over the past weeks.
Local media says that the first of these tusked mammals showed up on a barrier island in the Chukchi Sea towards the middle of September. At that time, wildlife researchers counted about 1,200 animals, Nature World News reports.
By September 22, there were around 8,000 of them. According to more recent estimates, the herd is now made up of about 10,000 individuals.
Wildlife researchers explain that, if given the chance, walruses much prefer gathering on icebergs. However, low ice levels recorded over the past few years in this part of the world appear to be forcing them to seek refuge on land.
Therefore, it is likely that, as global temperatures continue to increase, such numerous walrus herds will become a fairly common sight in Alaska.