Now that Uki has arrived safely to her long term home, we’re looking back at the in depth care that allowed her to regain her health and strength. come behind the scenes with us for an inside look at an overnight shift caring for Ukiaq the orphaned walrus calf!
How does Ukiaq spend her day?
With this patient, the work didn’t stop when the sun went down! Let’s look at what a typical 24-hour shift looked like caring for Ukiaq the walrus calf.
The data below is a rough estimate based on daily observation from our wildlife response staff.
Sleep and Cuddling
Ukiaq spent over half her day sleeping on or against a staff member, whose physical presence replicates the comfort and security usually provided by its mother in the wild. While this contact is essential for the calf’s well-being, it is also a uniquely rewarding experience for caregivers. We asked staff to share moments with the walrus that meant the most to them:
Bottled Feeding
Prepping formula and bottle feeding are regular tasks during a walrus care shift. The calf’s food is prepared using water, a powdered milk formula, and some added vitamins and medications (natural laxative, anti-gas medicine, antibiotics, and probiotics to name a few).
Because the calf’s formula does not come directly from mom, an enzyme (lactase) is added to every batch, which ensures the milk can be easily digested.
The calf was hand fed 1.5 liters of formula from a bottle every four hours, meaning she consumed about 9 liters over the course of a full day.
Swim and Playtime
As with all rehab patients, staff ensured Uki had opportunities to play and engage in natural behaviors through enrichment. Because walruses spend two thirds of their life in water, this naturally includes swimming!
For the first month of her rehabilitation, the calf’s exposure to water was limited to a small kiddie pool with warmed salt water. Once she reached a healthy weight and had grown strong enough to haul out of deeper water, she is spent more time swimming in her larger pool.
Uki’s improvement in strength is evident as she hauls out on a floating platform. This enrichment item mimics floating sea ice, which walrus often use to rest and congregate in the wild.
Enrichment toys such as the “kelp” felt strip pictured above also provided opportunities for chewing, which helps soothe the calf when she began teething. A recent radiograph (left) showed us that her tusks (enlarged upper canines) are beginning to come in!
Sleeping in Water
When she became more comfortable in her larger pool, she began taking naps while floating in the water! This behavior demonstrates an increase in her confidence and is a milestone in her path towards independence.
Hard at Work
In the words of our staff: “it’s not all cuddles and playtime!” A team of at last two were present at all times to ensure other duties are taken care. This includes deep cleaning the kitchen, sanitizing bottles and containers, spraying down the walrus’ enclosure, and — of course — caring for the other rehab patients (including several new bird admits).
Future Plans for Ukiaq
While we will miss Uki dearly, we know her moving to her longterm home in human care where she can be with other walruses is the best choice for her well-being. As Uki grows stronger in her new home at SeaWorld Orlando, “Kaboodle,” a potential surrogate mother, and three other walruses wait to meet her.
“We are thrilled by the progress this walrus calf has made since her admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program. As just the eleventh orphaned Pacific walrus calf to come through our doors since our opening 25 years ago, we recognize how incredibly special she is. Success stories like Ukiaq is what inspires us, the only organization authorized to rehabilitate live-stranded marine mammals in the state of Alaska,” said Dr. Wei Ying Wong, ASLC President and CEO.
The ASLC will continue to be involved with Uki’s journey and care. We can’t thank you all enough for following her story while at the ASLC so closely, and for caring for Uki just as much as we do!
This story was first shared with ASLC members in one of our “Exclusive Member Newsletters.” Become a member to get in depth ASLC stories to sent to your inbox!