Orphaned Alaska Walrus Calf Flies 4,000 Miles to a New Home in Florida

An orphaned Pacific walrus calf named Annautaq has a new home at SeaWorld Orlando, the Florida park announced on Oct. 21, 2026. He was found alone on a remote beach in northern Alaska and cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. The five-month-old male is in a planned 30-day quarantine and will then be introduced to the park’s three walruses.¹

Violet Anniskett, a wildlife research intern and member of the local community, and U.S. Geological Survey scientist Tony Fischbach found him after a walrus herd left the area during heavy surf.¹ The calf was hiding between the older remains of two adult walruses, and scavenging birds had already started targeting him. Without help, he was unlikely to survive.¹

The two looked after him for several days. Then, with help from the local community and federal wildlife officials, he was flown to the Alaska SeaLife Center.¹ Anniskett named him Annautaq, which means “axe” in Iñupiaq, in honor of her father’s Iñupiaq name.¹

“Getting Annautaq to this point took an incredible network of people, and we’re proud the ASLC could provide the specialized care that helped carry him from rescue in Alaska to his next chapter.”

That was Jane Belovarac, the center’s wildlife response curator, in the SeaWorld announcement. She also said: “Annautaq’s story shows why having specialized marine mammal rehabilitation capacity in Alaska is so important.”¹

Why he can’t go back to the wild

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that Annautaq could not be released. Pacific walrus calves live on their mothers’ milk for their first year. They also rely on their mothers for protection and for learning how to be a walrus among other walruses.¹

Related: A 220-Pound Baby Walrus Named ‘Axe’ Still Gets Up to 6 Bottles a Day

Experts from across the walrus care community weighed where he should live. According to SeaWorld, the decision was guided by his long-term care and social needs, including the chance to grow up alongside other walruses.¹ SeaWorld describes itself as one of only four U.S. institutions currently able to house walruses.¹

A long flight and a busy bottle schedule

SeaWorld sent animal care and veterinary staff with walrus experience to Alaska. They helped care for the calf and prepared him for the roughly 4,000-mile trip to Florida.¹

Annautaq weighs about 220 pounds.¹² He gets up to six bottle feedings a day of a high-fat formula developed by SeaWorld’s veterinary and animal care teams, plus round-the-clock support during quarantine.¹

“At this young age, Annautaq needs more than nutrition and veterinary care. He also needs close contact and companionship, which our expert team is providing around the clock.”

That’s Jim Kinsler, a curator at SeaWorld Orlando, speaking in the park’s announcement.¹

Meet the herd

Annautaq will be introduced to three walruses, two of whom were rescued in Alaska themselves.¹

• Uki, 2, was also rescued in Alaska and rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center.
• Kaboodle, 23, is a proven surrogate to rescued calves.
• Garfield, 44, was rescued as an orphaned calf in Alaska and hand-raised at SeaWorld Orlando.

For a new arrival, that is about as experienced a welcoming committee as a walrus could get.

SeaWorld has not set dates for introducing him to the herd or for letting the public see him. The park says his care team will guide the timing.¹²