Where’s walrus? Scientists need the public’s help to find walruses … from space

By Ben Turner via SWNS

Scientists have appealed to the public to help them monitor the number of walrus in the Arctic by looking at images taken from space.

The 'Walrus from Space' project will see animal lovers scanning satellite images to help monitor walrus populations along the Arctic coastline.

Conservationists hope that the research will give a clearer picture of how each population is fairing amid the perils of climate change, without disturbing the animals.

The project, led by the World Wildlife Fund and British Antarctic Survey, uses space satellites to capture thousands of high-resolution images of walrus congregated on almost 1,000 square miles of the Arctic coastline.

Anyone can take part in the walrus census using their own computer but they must undergo a short online training module before starting.

Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF, said: “It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the climate and nature emergency, but this project enables individuals to take action to understand a species threatened by the climate crisis, and to help to safeguard their future.

"What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay there; the climate crisis is a global problem, bigger than any person, species or region.

"Walrus are an iconic species of great cultural significance to the people of the Arctic, but climate change is melting their icy home."