How BIG are WALRUSES Compared to Humans? #shorts

#walrus #shorts #kpassionate
Walruses are big! Much bigger than people realized. In this video, you can see just how big they are compared to humans. For reference, I am 5'8"! As big as he looks, this walrus is still growing. He is just a juvenile walrus! This walrus, named Balzak, currently weighs 2,100 lbs or almost 1,000 kg. Adult male walruses can grow to be twice this size, weighing between 4,000 to 5,000 lbs or over 2,000 kg!

Why does this walrus have metal caps on his tusks? I answer that and several other frequently asked questions about walruses in this video here: https://youtu.be/Z3KmiKbq7Jo

Walrus tusks, which are found on both males and females, are actually large canine teeth which grow throughout their lives and can reach a meter in length! Walrus tusks don’t have a hard outer enamel layer like human teeth. And because walruses naturally rub their tusks, they can get worn down and allow bacteria to enter the tooth and cause infection and pain, which can have serious health side effects. That is why this walrus has metal crowns on his tusks to prevent them from becoming worn down and susceptible to bacterial infection. That’s just one reason he gets regular dental check ups!

Balzak was born at the Aquarium du Quebec back in 2016 and I had the privilege of working with this handsome walrus for several years. During that time, Balzak participated in several important research projects into the metabolism of walruses and this information was used to enact laws and policies aimed at protecting his cousins in the wild.

Recently, Balzak and his sister Lakina have moved to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium where I now have the opportunity to work with him again after several years. He looks great and I can't wait to share more of him and his sister Lakina in the near future!

The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent Metro Parks Tacoma’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

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