Danish scientists are to put satellite tags on walruses to try to understand where the great beasts migrate. The satellite data will be shared with BBC News and posted on its website so readers can follow the migration. The animals will be tracked for two months off west Greenland - and gauge how hunting, oil exploration and climate change may be affecting them.The project is being run by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and the Danish Polar Centre. At this time of year, west Greenland's walruses are lazing around on pack ice, basking in the early spring sunshine. But as temperatures rise further, the ice will begin to retreat, and the mammals will soon be heading north to colder climes.
The exact location of their summer hideaway has long been a mystery. ``We want to find out where they are going,'' explains Professor Erik Born, the senior scientist in charge of the project. During two weeks at sea, the researchers hope to attach 10 satellite tags to walruses. The devices will be deployed using a crossbow or carbon dioxide-powered gun fired from the boat.
Although this method might sound cruel, you have to remember that walruses have a hide that is about 2-4cm (0.8-1.3in) thick, Professor Born says. The tags will stay on for one to two months, eventually being pushed out as the hide heals. The team believes the time period should provide enough data.
News source: BBC.com.
2 comments:
Well that's nice to mention that the tags are pushed out naturally. Still so much we don't know about the wonderful wide wonderful world of wildlife :)
G'day le'vlogue,
Yes, that's precisely the fact that caught my attention.
That and (lilke you) the realisation that we know so much, yet we know so little.
Nice to see your footprint here. Hope you come back regularly. Do you have a blog? If so, what's the url?
Cheers
David
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