Satellite Images Reveal Massive Walrus Colony on Remote Svalbard Shore

Hundreds of walruses gathered on a remote Arctic shore have been spotted from orbit. The discovery, made as part of the international Walrus from Space initiative, ranks among the largest satellite-documented observations of the species to date, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

An Unexpected Discovery at the Edge of the Arctic

Scientists identified a new walrus haul-out on the coast of the Svalbard archipelago, situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The massive animals, which can weigh up to two tons, formed a large colony in an area where their presence had not previously been recorded.

The gathering was detected thanks to high-resolution images captured through a joint program by WWF and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). These images form the basis of an ongoing population census aimed at understanding how climate change is affecting a species dependent on sea ice.

The Walrus from Space Project

The project launched in 2021 with a five-year mission: to use satellite imagery to study Arctic walrus populations in Canada, Greenland and the Norwegian Arctic. The initiative involves not only specialists but thousands of volunteers worldwide, known as "walrus detectives.”

According to WWF, around 40,000 people have already joined the effort. Each participant helps identify animals on satellite images, accelerating the processing of vast data sets.

"Walruses are large and powerful animals, but today they are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, as the sea ice is literally melting beneath them.”
— WWF

Why the Discovery Matters

Walruses play a crucial role in Arctic ecosystems: they regulate mollusk populations, stir up seafloor sediments and form an essential link in the region's food chain. But shrinking sea ice is forcing them ashore more often, exposing them to dangerous crowding, stress and food shortages.

The newly discovered Svalbard haul-out may indicate that walruses are seeking new resting grounds due to diminishing stable ice cover. Scientists view this as a troubling sign of shifting migration routes.

"This newly detected site shows how much we still do not know about walrus numbers and behavior. Each new location helps us understand how they are responding to a warming climate.”
— Specialists at WWF and BAS