28 November 2025

Press Release

For immediate release

Newly discovered walrus haul-out reignites calls for ‘Walrus Detectives’ to join Walrus from Space project

The new haul-out was discovered in an area not currently being monitored by scientists
Walrus are facing the harsh realities of the climate crisis and we urgently need to understand more about how they are affected to help safeguard their future 
WWF and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are calling for the public’s help to search for and count Atlantic walrus through satellite images from space

A newly discovered walrus haul-out in Svalbard has reignited calls for the public to join the Walrus from Space project.

The haul-out, which is a huddle of walrus on shore, was captured by satellite images and revealed this fascinating discovery in an area not previously monitored by scientists.

WWF and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have been monitoring walrus through the Walrus from Space project.

This fresh discovery goes to show that there are still haul-outs to be found using the power of satellite technology and with the help of the public.

Rod Downie, Chief Advisor, Polar & Oceans for WWF-UK said:

“Walrus are big, powerful animals, but they are also increasingly vulnerable to the implications of the climate crisis, as the sea ice is literally melting out from underneath them. 

“This recently found site in Svalbard is exciting and demonstrates that we have so much more to learn about Walrus distribution and abundance.

“The Walrus from Space programme helps us better understand walrus, how they are being affected by the climate crisis now and how they might respond in a climate altered future.

“We are doing this to provide evidence to support the conservation of the species across its range.” 

Hannah Cubaynes, Wildlife from Space research associate for the British Antarctic Survey, said:

“Satellites act as our eyes where we can’t see, taking images of places humans rarely go, but where walrus might be found.

“This newly discovered walrus haul-out site shows how powerful satellite imagery can be to monitor shifts in walrus distribution.

“This is crucial to know as walrus habitat is rapidly changing because of climate change.”

Walrus are a keystone species in Arctic marine ecosystems. Today, these powerful animals are facing increasing threats due to climate change.

The climate crisis is causing the Arctic to warm about four times faster than the global average. The sea ice that walrus depend on is disappearing at a staggering rate with summer Arctic sea ice shrinking by about 12% per decade as a result of warming temperatures.  The Arctic is in meltdown, putting walrus and other species that live there at risk.

The Walrus from Space project, in cooperation with scientists from around the Arctic, aims to deliver a census of Atlantic Walrus populations in Canada, Greenland and the Norwegian Arctic using satellite imagery and explore what might happen to them in the context of rapid climate change.

Since 2021, nearly 40 thousand members of the public have taken part in the Walrus from Space project, searching over one million satellite images. This is vital in helping scientists to understand how the climate crisis is affecting walrus populations in the Arctic.  

The public are being asked to join the project and become involved as ‘Walrus Detectives’ to help contribute to conservation science by searching for walrus in thousands of satellite images collected by space technology and intelligence company Vantor.