By Josie December 3rd, 2023
Having sunk two boats in this way, this walrus is gifted his very own floating couch!
Wally the walrus, weighing a hefty 1,760 lbs, has been making waves, quite literally, in the Irish Sea.
He loves climbing onto small boats to take a good nap, which has led to the sinking of at least two vessels, causing thousands of euros in damages.
Wally’s choice of napping locations has led to significant damage, presenting a highly unusual human-wildlife conflict. It’s lucky for him that he looks so cute doing it!
Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) collaborated to create a better and safer resting place for Wally (for everyone involved.)
Wally the walrus’ story illustrates how human-wildlife conflicts sometimes need very creative solutions.
But we can all rest easy knowing that Wally now has his very own nap paradise at sea.
Believed to be from Svalbard, north of Norway, he has traveled over 2,500 miles on a solo trip.
His tour has included stops across Ireland, England, Wales, and even the coasts of France and Spain.
However, if he decides that your boat looks like a top-tier nap place, authorities advise you to push him away with an oer gently.