In July 2024, near the remote village of Utqiaġvik, Alaska, a Pacific walrus calf was discovered alone and barely clinging to life. The female calf, estimated to be just a few weeks old, was found dehydrated, emaciated, and covered in minor wounds. She had been separated from her herd, likely left behind or displaced inland by unknown circumstances.
The civilians who first spotted her contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which authorized the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) to step in and rescue her, PEOPLE reports.
After transport to the ASLC in Seward, the calf—named Ukiaq, meaning “autumn” in the Iñupiaq language—began receiving urgent 24-hour care. Known affectionately as “Uki,” the orphan became only the 11th walrus admitted to the center’s Wildlife Response Program since 1998, according to DVM360.
Uki was found alone on the shores of Utqiaġvik, Alaska in July 2024.
Life-Saving Cuddles and Care
Walrus calves are deeply dependent on their mothers for the first two years of life. Without her mother’s warmth and constant attention, Uki’s survival hinged on human intervention. At the ASLC, animal care specialists, including Diana Hawke and Staci Owens, stepped in as surrogate mothers. They bottle-fed her, cleaned her enclosure, and even slept beside her to replicate maternal comfort, New York Post reports.
Young walruses are unlikely to survive without maternal care during their early years, and this calf was no exception. Experts involved in her care emphasized that without human support, she would not have lasted much longer, DVM360 notes.
Thanks to these efforts, Uki began to recover. She steadily gained weight, eventually reaching over 200 pounds by late summer. However, due to her imprinting on human caregivers, she was deemed unsuitable for return to the wild. That decision set the stage for her next chapter.
Walrus calves rely on their mothers for up to two years.
A New Life in the Sunshine State
In September, Uki was accompanied by her veterinary team and one of her original caregivers to Orlando, Florida, where she now lives at SeaWorld, reports the Hindustan Times. The facility is one of the few in North America equipped to care for walruses like her.
At SeaWorld, the Wild Arctic team took over, gradually introducing Uki to her new environment through sleepovers, short habitat visits, and scent-based introductions. Staff facilitated Uki’s transition by transferring her scent onto their clothing, helping the existing walrus herd recognize and grow accustomed to her presence, PEOPLE reports.
Uki’s transition into the walrus herd began with Kaboodle, an experienced 20-year-old female. Eventually, she’ll join the rest of the group, including Kaboodle’s daughter Kora and Garfield, a 42-year-old male who was also bottle-raised at SeaWorld.
More Than a Rescue
Uki’s weight now exceeds 350 pounds. Her tiny tusks—referred to playfully as “little TicTacs” by caregivers—are growing in, and she is currently going through a teething phase.
Her caretakers have described her as having a strong and expressive personality, suggesting she doesn’t hesitate to make her feelings known, PEOPLE reports.
Though she will never return to the wild, Uki’s story carries broader meaning.
This one rescued walrus represents more than a success story—she also embodies the relationship between Arctic wildlife, Indigenous communities, and the broader marine ecosystem.
Without intervention, Uki would not have survived.
More Than a Rescue
Uki’s weight now exceeds 350 pounds. Her tiny tusks—nicknamed “little TicTacs” by her caretakers—are growing in, and her teething phase has begun.
“She’s very spicy,” Hawke told PEOPLE. “She will tell you exactly how she feels.”
Though she will never return to the wild, Uki’s story carries broader meaning.
“This one abandoned and rescued walrus calf serves as a vital ambassador for her species, the communities who rely upon them, and the Arctic ecosystem,” Dr. Wei Ying Wong, President and CEO of ASLC, told DVM360.
“Walrus are amazing ambassadors for the Arctic and an inspiration to all of us to be better stewards of the planet we all share,” he told the Hindustan Times.
Uki is expected to make her first public appearance later this month, but for those who helped save her, her impact is already clear.
