Walrus

Huge in size with long, impressive tusks, walruses live in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Males can weigh over 4,400 pounds and reach up to 12 feet long. Walruses use their tusks to fight predators, defend against other walruses,  keep their breathing holes open, and to pull themselves onto ice floes. They feed at depths of 30-160 feet, using their whiskers to identify prey and their snouts to root it out. The grave loss of sea ice caused by climate change is wreaking havoc on walruses. Mothers must swim farther to find food, leaving their calves alone and vulnerable. This has forced them to forage for food on beaches, increasing their interaction with humans, which can be fatal on both sides. Conservation efforts are working to mitigate the impact of climate change, offering some hope for the future of this amazing creature.