TASS, October 31. Scientists wrapped up the Walrus Complex Studies' field works in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region. The experts reported 3-4 thousand animals on the Kara Sea coast, the regional government's press service said.
On October, 14, the scientists went to the Kara Sea coast to take samples for genetic tests. The number of pinnipeds registered two weeks earlier was about 1,500.
"According to preliminary reports, the scientists saw that the number of Atlantic walrus cubs has increased at the rookery at the mouth of the Tiutei-Yakha River near the Kara Sea coast, which increases further the rookery's value. The total number of Atlantic walruses on the rookery has increased. This year, the scientists have observed about three to four thousand animals at a time," the press service said in a release.
During the expedition, seven walruses were tagged with satellite transmitters so that scientists could track them. Biopsy samples were taken from 30 animals. Every day, the specialists used a copter to take pictures of the rookery. Within a few months, the scientists will conduct laboratory tests and will analyze the received data. The expedition featured experts of the Institute of Ecology of Plants and Animals' Arctic research center (the Russian Academy of Sciences' Urals Branch) and of the Marine Mammals Scientific-Expedition Center.
Following the trip results, the scientists stressed it is most important to tighten control measures for people visiting the walrus recreation area. For this purpose, the territory is planned to be granted a specially protected status in order to ensure the safety of the only mainland rookery of the animals, which are on the Red Data Book list.
About rookery
In October 2019, scientists discovered more than 1,000 walruses on the Yamal Peninsula's northwestern coast. Previously, experts believed only isolated animals could stay there short-term, without permanent rookeries. During an expedition, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region organized in autumn, 2020, scientists could see there about 3-5 thousand mammals.
The Yamal rookery is the world's largest concentration of Atlantic walruses. In 2021, the region launched a three-year program to study it.
Atlantic walruses are large marine mammals listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Yamal. In autumn, when big areas of the Arctic seas are mostly free of ice, the animals form up rookeries on islands, or, like they do on the Yamal, on the continental coast.