【明報專訊】Looking at a Pacific walrus (太平洋海象), the first impression must be "it's huge"! A male Pacific walrus can weigh up to almost 1,600 kg, which is equivalent to an average car! Another feature that catches your eyes must be their long tusks. They are actually their upper canine teeth (犬齒), which keep growing throughout a walrus' life. Despite the heavy weight, walruses use their tusks like tools to haul themselves out of the water. They also use the tusks to break breathing holes in the ice.

Skillful hunters

Pacific walruses may look bald, but their body is covered in short brown hair. Around their nose they have stiff beardbristles (粗硬觸鬚) which can grow up to 30 cm long. These bristles can help the walrus detect prey especially when hunting in murky (渾濁的) waters. They can also squirt water out of their nostrils (鼻孔) like a water jet to uncover hidden prey on the sea floor, as well as sucking the flesh out of the shells like a vacuum cleaner!

Never alone

Walruses are social animals. They live in herds of the same sex, except when both sexes gather together during the breeding season and when the mothers are still caring for their calves. Pacific walruses mate between December and March. Females only mate once every two years or more due to their long gestation period (懷孕期) of 15 months.

Giants have troubles too

Pacific walruses have few predators other than the occasional killer whale or brave polar bear. Thus they tend to live relatively long life spans. As an important source of food and other materials, the walrus has been hunted by native peoples and commercial hunters severely. Nowadays climate change and the reduction of sea-ice are expected to threaten the Pacific walrus as well.

Save the Arctic animals

Although very few humans live in the Arctic region, that doesn't mean the majority of us have nothing to do with the survival of walruses. In fact, every day we are affecting them adversely with our actions. We have the power to turn things around!

•Pay attention to the "Energy Efficiency Label" when choosing electrical appliances

•Turn off lights whenever you leave the room

•Spend time in nature and enjoy outdoor activities instead of being glued to electronic devices

Text & photos: Ocean Park Hong Kong

■Glossary

haul (v) 拖拉

bald (adj) 光禿的

squirt (v) 噴

severely (adv) 嚴重地

[Smarties' Power English 第215期]