Thor (walrus)

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Thor
'Thor' the Walrus at Blyth Harbour, Northumberland 1.jpg
Thor in Blyth Harbour, Northumberland, 2 January 2023
Species Walrus
SexMale
BornCirca 2014
Weight750 kg (1,653 lb; 118 st 1 lb)
Named after Thor

Thor is the nickname of a vagrant Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) first seen in the Netherlands, in November 2022. [1] [2] [3]

Thor is a male walrus probably about eight years old at the end of 2022, [4] and estimated to weigh around 0.75 tonnes. [3]

Thor in Blyth Harbour 'Thor' the Walrus at Blyth Harbour, Northumberland 2.jpg
Thor in Blyth Harbour

Thor was originally sighted on 6 November 2022, first in Petten, North Holland, then Neeltje Jans island, Zeeland, [5] and subsequently travelled along the north coast of France to Brittany. In December 2022, Thor was spotted at Calshot, Hampshire [1] and then in Scarborough harbour, North Yorkshire on New Year's Eve. [6] While in Scarborough, Thor was seen masturbating, [7] [8] showing he had reached sexual maturity, which in walrus is typically at age 8–10 years. [9] On 2 January 2023 Thor appeared in Blyth, Northumberland, resting for several hours before moving on overnight. [10]

On 24 February 2023 British Divers Marine Life Rescue reported that Thor had been seen in Iceland. [4] [11]

Response

Whilst Thor was in Calshot, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue issued warnings to the public to not get too close to the walrus and kept a cordon up to allow him to rest. [2]

Thor again appeared on New Year's Eve 2022 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. British Divers Marine Life Rescue maintained a cordon through the night and the daytime until 4.20pm when he departed. Scarborough's New Year fireworks were cancelled after concerns arose after Marine Mammal Medics witnessed him becoming stressed at flashing lights from vehicles. [12] Scarborough Borough Council leader Steve Siddons said "the welfare of the walrus has to take precedence". [12] Thor's masturbatory behaviour in front of a large crowd of spectators was videoed, which went viral, with over 4 million views by 3 January 2023. [8]

Em Mayman, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Assistant Coordinator for British Divers Marine Life Rescue praised the decision made to cancel the fireworks as a big step forward for animal welfare.

References

  1. 1 2 "Thor the walrus: People urged not to disturb animal resting on Hampshire beach". Sky News. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Thor: Visiting walrus prompts warning at Calshot beach". BBC News. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 Comerford, Ruth (11 December 2022). "'Thor' the walrus spotted in Hampshire as people are warned to stay away". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Thor the Walrus spotted in Iceland after Christmas holiday in the UK". ITV News. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Clapson, Colin (14 November 2022). "Thor the walrus: first walrus visit since 1976?". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Port, Samuel (31 December 2022). "Walrus washes up on Scarborough Harbour with rescue teams urging crowds of 50 to 'stay away'". Yorkshire Live. Yorkshire. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Luntz, Stephen (17 January 2023). "Thor The Masturbating Walrus Is Not Alone Among Self-Pleasuring Animals". IFLScience. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 Jackson, Daisy (3 January 2023). "the snoozing, 'w**king' walrus that brought the nation to a standstill this week". The Manc. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "All About the Walrus". United Parks & Resorts. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "Thor the walrus arrives in Blyth after leaving Scarborough". BBC News. 2 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Thor the walrus spotted in Iceland after leaving UK". BBC News. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Scarborough's New Year fireworks cancelled to protect walrus". BBC News. 2 January 2023.
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