It’s a rather unexpected encounter that’s currently creating a buzz in Ireland. A young walrus (christened Wally) has been spotted on the Irish coast… and has apparently taken to living on empty pleasure boats! An opportunity for him to bask in the sun before taking another dip in Irish waters… It was a funny situation, and one that brought hilarity to the locals!
Ireland isn’t exactly walrus country… These animals are generally found in the Arctic, much further north. That’s why the meeting with Wally created such a buzz in Ireland.
The Irish didn’t expect to come across such an animal… and especially not to see it taking a nap on boats!
According to scientists, the animal probably fell asleep on a piece of Arctic ice. It then drifted as far as Ireland… covering over 4,000 km of the Atlantic Ocean.
He was first spotted at Ardmore in County Waterford. He then climbed into a boat, much to the amusement of the locals.
Since then, the animal has spread to West Cork. It would also have been on a boat belonging to a member of the Clonakilty distillery.
Wally the Walrus seems to still be enjoying Ireland.
Tune into @Skentelbery at 3:40pm to hear from the boat owners, who say Wally can stay aboard and rest.
[Pictures – @clondistillery] pic.twitter.com/y95ZCWqk9U
— BBC Radio Cornwall (@BBCCornwall) August 10, 2021
Although it may look playful, and remind people of the famous Fungie dolphin (a wild animal that liked to play with fishing boats in Dingle), the Irish authorities have urged people not to approach the walrus.
It’s advisable to admire the animal from a safe distance, and to avoid risky behavior that could frighten it and provoke bad reactions.
As for Wally’s future, the experts were confident. Irish waters are ideal for providing food. According to specialists, the walrus should be able to return naturally to its native land once it has regained its strength.
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