![]() I’ve seen walruses blow out a little bit of air into their faces. Is that accurate?ĭEREK WOODIE: To a certain degree. In the episode, the walruses also greet each other through blowing in each other’s faces. So thank you for that answering that part of our question about the episode. They are closer to predators, bears-polar bears or grizzly bears-and it’s just something where they would rather be out on an ice floe where they have more protection and feel more at home. HOST: So is there a reason why they are.are they scared of other animals? Are they just uncomfortable?ĭEREK WOODIE: They’re just out of their element when they are up on land. They do not like to have anything unusual around them other than other walruses. Those can cause stampedes and cause the walruses to try to get back to the water as soon as they can. If they are required to haul out on land because of the lack of sea ice, they’re very, very skittish, or easily spooked, so they don’t like anything else around them, whether it be a small Arctic fox up in the area or a polar bear. They normally like to haul out on ice floes in small numbers out in the middle of the sea or the ocean and stay away from anything. That part of the story is pretty real to life. In real life, do walruses actually not like to share space with other species?ĭEREK WOODIE: Very much so. So Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso have to disguise themselves as a fellow walrus to sneak into the colony and get Peso’s medical bag. In this episode, the walruses don’t really like other animals near their colonies. Well, thank you so much again for being on this episode to talk about the Octonauts adventure with the walrus. We have a small population of Steller sea lions, ice seals, and sea otters here that we look over, and also we have a rescue and rehabilitation program, which covers almost the entire state of Alaska. Can you start off by telling us a little bit about your role at the Alaska SeaLife Center?ĭEREK WOODIE: Yeah, I’m the curator of mammals here at the Alaska SeaLife Center. It’s quite the honor to be asked to participate in these. Thank you, Derek, for joining us!ĭEREK WOODIE: Thanks for inviting me. He’s joining us via phone all the way from Seward, Alaska, so you might notice a little difference in sound quality for today’s interview. Our guest today is Derek Woodie from the Alaska SeaLife Center offsite link. Scientists at the Alaska SeaLife Center are studying how walruses use these land areas and how they might respond to the new challenges that the land brings. As sea ice dwindles, more walruses are spending more time on land. Like polar bears, walruses rely on sea ice for their survival. When a swimming walrus wants to get out to rest on an ice floe, it can dig its tusks into the ice and use that leverage to haul its blubbery body out of the water.Īlthough they aren’t currently listed as endangered, walruses still face many threats. They can also use these tusks like built-in ice picks. Both male and female walruses sport the species’ trademark tusks, which help them defend against predators and search for meals of clams, sea cucumbers, and crabs on the ocean floor. Walruses are the biggest seals on earth, with the biggest ones weighing in at about 4000 pounds-just about as much as the average car. HOST: Before we begin our chat, let’s set the stage for today’s deep dive. ![]() HOST: When a walrus steals Peso's medical bag, mistaking it for a funny-looking white clam, the Octonauts must travel inside a walrus colony to find it! But when the walruses don't let them enter, as it was a walrus-only zone, Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso come up with a plan to get the medical bag back. Today, we’re talking about Episode 4: The Octonauts and the Walrus Chief. ![]() This podcast is hosted by NOAA’s Office of Education and the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Network. HOST: Our monthly podcast brings together experts from inside and outside of NOAA to help you-and the children you care about-learn more about the real-life versions of the Octonauts sea creatures and the ocean they call home. MUSIC: Explore! Rescue! Protect! Octonauts! ![]() Their mission: to explore the world’s ocean, rescue the creatures who live there, and protect their habitats. HOST: You’re listening to "NOAA & the Octonauts" - an episode-by-episode discussion of the children’s TV show The Octonauts, which features a crew of quirky and courageous undersea adventurers. MUSIC: Octonauts, to your stations! Barnacles! Kwazii! Peso!
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