What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet?

Climate change is reducing Arctic sea ice, forcing walruses to congregate in large land-based groups called 'haulouts'. These haulouts increase mortality through calf exhaustion during long swims and stampedes caused by disturbances. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the global average, with projections suggesting it could be ice-free in summer by 2040.

• The decline of sea ice, which is currently being lost at a rate of 12% per decade, forces walruses to travel distances exceeding 100 miles to reach land-based 'haulouts'. These journeys are often fatal for young calves, and the resulting land congregations can reach sizes of over 35,000 individuals.
• Walruses in haulouts face significant risks, including the exhaustion of local food sources and death by stampede. Stampedes are triggered when walruses are spooked by vehicles, humans, polar bears, or small animals, with young calves being particularly vulnerable.
• The Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the planet. If emissions are not checked, the region could be ice-free in the summer by 2040, and the ice-free season could extend to nine to 11 months by the end of the century, eliminating the preferred habitat of the Pacific walrus.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet? https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-a-walrus-haulout-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-planet/

Chicago

WWF International. What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet? n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-a-walrus-haulout-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-planet/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet? |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-a-walrus-haulout-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-planet/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndwhat, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet?}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-a-walrus-haulout-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-planet/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }