The formation of a unique Yamal haul-out of Atlantic walruses in the mouth of the Tiutei-Yakha River traditionally begins in late August. Currently, several dozen individuals are on the coast of the Kara Sea. Photographers from the "Reserved Yamal" project visited the Tiutei-Yakha Reserve together with inspectors from the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO) and took pictures of the red-listed animals. This was reported by the regional government on its website.
"The territory lies on the migration route of endangered species and serves as a kind of resting place for animals. Walruses stay here for several months before the ice sets. Among them are many females with cubs of different ages," the message says.
The Yamal walrus haul-out was first discovered in October 2019. Then, about a thousand individuals were counted there. Every year, the number of walruses on the haul-out increases - last season it reached about five thousand.
As noted in the message, a three-year cycle of scientific research was launched to study the Atlantic walrus haul-out in Yamal, which ended this year. The work was carried out by specialists from the Arctic Research Station of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the NEC "Marine Mammals". The research was necessary to study the number of animals, conduct a genetic analysis, and obtain data on the migration routes of walruses.
"Genetic analysis showed that the Yamal population is relatively independent. This was confirmed by a toxicological analysis," the message says.
Specialists also studied historical data and found that there was previously a walrus haul-out on the cape. Animals survived several glacial periods but then stopped stopping on the Yamal coast of the Kara Sea and returned only a few years ago. This indicates a good ecology in the area, they note in YNAO.
The study of walruses continues. This summer, specialists installed 10 autonomous photo and video recorders to accurately record the time the haul-out began to form and its dynamics.
The main task is to determine the annual life cycle and migration routes of walruses. For this, satellite tags were attached to their skin, which allowed studying the movement of animals for two to three months. And this year, new tags will be installed on walrus tusks, where the tags will hold for longer, allowing researchers to study the entire annual life cycle of animals: where they winter, where they migrate, where the calving grounds are located. Scientists plan to start the new stage in October.
"The most important task is to understand the breeding grounds of animals. This could be the basis for the formation of a new specially protected natural area, including at the federal level," said Vitaly Borisyuk, Deputy Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, whose words are quoted in the message.
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