A New Year’s Eve fireworks display had to be cancelled at the last minute to protect an Arctic walrus discovered in Scarborough. The event was called off over fears it “could cause distress to the mammal”.
Council leader Steve Siddons said he was disappointed but “the welfare of the walrus has to take precedence”. Mr Siddons said the decision to cancel the event was made on the advice of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), who have been monitoring the marine mammal.
Wildlife experts suggested the walrus – nicknamed Thor – was “taking a break” before heading north.
Thor, the first walrus ever recorded in Yorkshire, had swum round from the Hampshire coast, where he had been spotted earlier in December.
English tour continues
The wandering walrus has continued his English tour and turned up 100 miles further up the coast in Blyth on Monday 2nd January. (photo: Stuart Ford/PA)
A large crowd gathered in Blyth after a walrus was spotted resting on a wooden pontoon at the yacht club.
Experts believe the short stopovers have been a time for the walrus to recharge its batteries. Chris Cook, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity [BDMLR], said that the creature had needed “time to rest and recuperate before it continues its journey”.
This new sighting coincided with the publication of a report from BDMLR into the walrus’s visit to the Yorkshire seaside resort, which said up to 500 people came to see Thor at any one time, totalling thousands overall.
Further information from BDMLR can be found here.