A huge walrus has been discovered on the Northumberland coast – just a month after Wally returned to the Arctic.
Conservationists have appealed for members of the public to stay away from the animal after it was found sleeping off the shore at Seahouses village on Sunday morning.
It is unclear how the mammal arrived in the North East, as they usually reside hundreds of miles away in the Arctic Sea.
Andrew Douglas, 49, who owns a boat tour company, said he had never seen a walrus in the area before.
He told the BBC: “If it’s climate change, I don’t know; whether it’s just a fluke, I don’t know.
“But it’s just absolutely amazing so I just pray for people to give it a bit of space and let them just enjoy it for what it is.”
Richard Ilderton, the manager of Tynemouth Seal Hospital, said the animal would need to rest and gather its strength and urged members of the public to stay away.
He said there was “a possibility this is one of the animals that has been moving around recently but out of its normal range”.
“It is vital the public respect it and keep their distance to make sure it stays safe,” he added.
“If it is happy and relaxed it will be able to feed and take advantage of the Northumberland coastline, before hopefully heading home.”
It is not known whether the walrus found in Northumberland is Wally – who captured the hearts of people across Europe earlier this year.
Wally was first spotted in Ireland off the coast of Valentia Island in March, and has since travelled 4,000km along the coast of western Europe, being spotted in France, Spain and the UK.
Tynemouth Seal Hospital said: “We are aware of the reports of a walrus in the local area, and would urge people to please give it as much space and rest as possible.
“The RSPCA and BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) are aware.
“Please, please follow safe Wildlife distancing for this animal to make sure it stays safe.”
