Thor is the nickname of an Atlantic walrus (''Odobenus rosmarus'') first spotted in the Netherlands in November 2022. Thor is a male walrus at least three years old and estimated to weigh around 0.75 tonnes. Thor was originally sighted on 6 November 2022, first in Petten,

North Holland North Holland ( nl, Noord-Holland, ) is a province of the Netherlands in the northwestern part of the country. It is located on the North Sea, north of South Holland and Utrecht, and west of Friesland and Flevoland. In November 2019, it had a ...

, then Neeltje Jans island, Zeeland, and subsequently travelled along the north coast of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

. In December 2022, Thor was spotted at Calshot,

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

and then in

Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to: People * Scarborough (surname) * Earl of Scarbrough Places Australia * Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth * Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong * Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...

harbour,

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...

. On 2 January 2023 Thor appeared in Blyth, Northumberland. On 24 February 2023

British Divers Marine Life Rescue British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) is a British charity established in 1988 and is the United Kingdom's leading frontline marine mammal response organisation. It utilises a network of trained volunteers around the country to respond to ...

reported that Thor had been seen in Iceland.

Response

Whilst Thor was in Calshot, the

issued warnings to the public to not get too close to the walrus and kept a cordon up to allow him to rest. Thor again appeared on New Year's Eve 2022 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. British Divers Marine Life Rescue maintained a cordon through the night and the daytime until 4.20pm when he departed. Scarborough's

New Year New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system to ...

fireworks were cancelled after concerns arose after Marine Mammal Medics witnessed him becoming stressed at flashing lights from vehicles. Scarborough Borough Council leader Steve Siddons said "the welfare of the walrus has to take precedence". Em Mayman, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Assistant Coordinator for British Divers Marine Life Rescue praised the decision made to cancel the fireworks as a big step forward for animal welfare.

References

{{Reflist Blyth, Northumberland Brittany Hampshire Individual animals in England Individual animals in France Individual animals in the Netherlands Scarborough, North Yorkshire Wayward walruses Individual walruses