The “gigantic Arctic creatures” seen in satellite imagery are Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) gathered at a previously undocumented haul-out on Svalbard, in Norway’s Arctic. The finding came through Walrus from Space, a WWF–British Antarctic Survey project that combines satellite images, expert checks and public volunteers to monitor walruses across remote regions.
What did the satellites find?
In a discovery reported in November 2025, imagery revealed a new walrus haul-out on Svalbard. A haul-out is a place where walruses leave the water to rest, gather and perform other parts of their life cycle.
“Massive gathering” is news framing rather than a published count for this particular site. WWF’s project information confirms newly discovered Svalbard haul-outs but does not give a precise number of animals at this location. The animals are Atlantic walruses, a subspecies found around the Arctic and North Atlantic.
The site had not previously been documented, illustrating why satellite monitoring is valuable in an archipelago where many beaches and islands are difficult, expensive or disruptive to reach repeatedly.
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What is Walrus from Space?
WWF and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) began recruiting public “Walrus Detectives” in 2021. Volunteers inspect satellite images and mark or count walruses. Scientists use those observations to identify haul-outs, estimate numbers and build a wider census across Canada, Greenland and the Norwegian Arctic.
WWF-UK reported that more than 37,000 people had reviewed over one million satellite images on its project page reviewed 20 May 2024. Public participation lets a relatively small scientific team examine far more imagery than it could process alone.
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How the satellite counts are checked
Satellite observations are not accepted without validation. In July 2022, WWF and BAS scientists worked with the Norwegian Polar Institute in Svalbard, collecting synchronized very-high-resolution satellite imagery, drone imagery and ground counts. Comparing the three views helps researchers calibrate how walruses appear from space and test the reliability of image-based counts.
Why use satellites instead of visiting every haul-out?
| Observation method | Strength | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite imagery | Reaches vast, remote areas without repeatedly approaching animals. | Counts must be calibrated against closer observations and can be limited by image resolution, cloud or animal overlap. |
| Drone surveys | Provide much finer detail over a selected site. | Cover a smaller area and require a flight near the animals. |
| Ground counts | Offer direct, close-range verification. | Are time-consuming, geographically limited and can disturb a haul-out if conducted poorly. |
| Citizen science | Multiplies the number of images that can be reviewed by trained volunteers. | Volunteer markings still require scientific quality control. |
Satellites also avoid the repeated boat, aircraft or foot approaches that can cause walruses to panic and stampede. That makes them particularly useful for a species that congregates densely on shore.
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How climate change is reshaping walrus habitat
Walruses depend on sea ice for resting and for other parts of their life cycle. WWF-UK says the Arctic is warming almost four times faster than the global average, and that summer Arctic sea-ice extent is shrinking by 12.6% per decade (figures on its page reviewed 20 May 2024).
When floating ice retreats from productive feeding areas, walruses may be forced onto land. That can mean longer swims between resting sites and feeding grounds, greater crowding at coastal haul-outs and increased exposure to ships, industrial activity and other disturbance.
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Their food supply is also vulnerable. WWF identifies bivalves, sea snails and crabs as major prey; ocean acidification can make it harder for these shell-building animals to form and maintain shells. A newly mapped haul-out is therefore both a conservation data point and a sign of how quickly walruses are adapting to changing conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to become a Walrus Detective
The project is designed for people who want to contribute observations rather than visit Arctic wildlife sites themselves.
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- Use a computer or tablet. WWF says a mobile phone is not suitable for the image-searching and counting task.
- Join the official Walrus from Space project. Follow its current instructions and create an account if the platform requests one.
- Review assigned satellite images. Look for walruses and mark or count them using the project’s on-screen tools.
- Submit your classifications. Multiple volunteer reviews and scientific checks help identify uncertain images and improve count estimates.
You do not need to travel to Svalbard, handle animals or operate a drone. The useful contribution is careful, consistent image review from an internet-connected computer or tablet.
What this discovery does—and does not—tell us
- It confirms a previously undocumented Svalbard haul-out. Satellite coverage can reveal sites missed by occasional field visits.
- It expands the monitoring map. Finding a site does not by itself establish its long-term population trend.
- It does not provide a verified count for the reported gathering. The available project information names the site but not a precise total for this event.
- It shows why repeated, low-disturbance surveys matter. Researchers can compare imagery over time while reducing the need to approach animals.
Why the finding matters for walrus conservation
Atlantic walruses are large and powerful, but their dependence on sea ice and shallow, prey-rich seafloors makes them sensitive to rapid Arctic change. Mapping where they gather helps conservationists identify important resting areas, watch for shifts in distribution and assess where shipping or industrial activity could create risks.
As WWF polar adviser Rod Downie put it, “Walruses 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.” The Svalbard discovery supplies another location that scientists can track as those conditions continue to change.
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