A big walrus was in the present day discovered resting on a British seaside in what’s a uncommon UK sighting.
The marine mammal – nicknamed ‘Thor’ – was found resting on the shoreline of the Solent on the south coast after travelling from Europe.
Fisherman Darren Mckell was out along with his spouse Caroline and son Luke within the early hours after they discovered the ‘massive lump’ at Calshot seaside, Hants, on Sunday morning.
“Seeing the walrus was a double-take second”, 49 12 months previous Mr Mckell mentioned.
The marine mammal – nicknamed ‘Thor’ – was found resting on the shoreline of the Solent on the south coast after travelling from Europe
The fisherman and his household, from close by Holbury, mentioned he thought it was a seal.
As Thor rests and swims by the seaside, members of the general public have been warned to remain away as Walruses are shielded from disturbance underneath UK regulation.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) are on the scene alongside coastguard, with medics checking on the big mammal.
Walruses are likely to reside in and across the Arctic circle and it’s uncommon for them to return this far south, nevertheless Thor was final noticed within the Netherlands on November 6 and has been travelling alongside the coast of France so far as Brittany in the previous couple of weeks
Walruses journey lengthy distances and have relaxation stops to get better and regain vitality earlier than shifting on once more.
Mr Mckell mentioned: “It was unbelievable and such a shock.
“I believed it was a seal at first however as I obtained nearer I noticed it was enormous and it was a walrus.
“It was completely wonderful to see one thing like that, particularly in these waters. I hadn’t realised how uncommon it was to see a walrus right here.
“It was pretty to see however one thing you’d by no means count on. I’ve by no means seen a walrus within the wild as they do not usually reside in these areas.
“Seeing the walrus was a double-take second.”
Final 12 months, two walruses visited the UK – Wally, who got here to south Wales and the Isles of Scilly and Freya, who visited Northumberland and Shetland.
A spokesman from the BDMLR mentioned: “Key recommendation is being issued to everybody to provide the walrus a really large berth to keep away from disturbing it.
“They journey lengthy distances and have relaxation stops to get better and regain vitality earlier than shifting on once more.
“Each time it’s disturbed by folks being too shut or noisy will affect it is probabilities of survival. Walruses are shielded from disturbance underneath UK regulation.
“In fact we have no idea how lengthy Thor will probably be across the UK, however whereas he/she is right here we ask everybody to behave sensibly and responsibly for his or her security in addition to that of the walrus to keep away from a worst case situation occurring.”
