male Atlantic walrus (O. r. rosmarus)
wild caught in 1956
deceased on December 14th, 1966
No known related animals.
capture 1956 in Greenland
transfer 1956-Oct-09 to New York Aquarium
death 1966-Dec-14 at New York Aquarium
The dates listed here generally represent the time at which the measurements were published, not necessarily the date on which they were taken.
1956-Oct-09: 250 lbs
1961-Mar-16: 1,600 lbs
1962: 1,803 lbs (818 kg)
1962-May: 1,890 lbs
1962-Oct-09: 2,000 lbs
1963-May: 2,500 lbs
1964: 3,000 lbs
1966: 3,000 lbs
1956-Oct-28: "a couple of inches"
1956-Oct-28: 15 lbs ("ground salt water fish [herring is mentioned], mixed with five pints of evaporated milk, three ounces of codliver oil and a pint of corn oil")
1962: 141 lbs (64 kg) (fish)
1962: "a diet largely of clams"
1963-May: "raw clams, skimmer clams, Spisula solidissima and Mactra"
No images available at this time.
This walrus was initially called "Henry" upon transfer to New York.
Olaf was either transferred to New York from Tierpark Hagenbeck in Germany, or simply purchased from animal merchant Carl Hagenbeck and transferred directly from Greenland. I am not sure which, as sources are unclear and conflicting.
According to the New York Zoological Society (now the Wildlife Conservation Society), Olaf was the first walrus of his size to be weighed alive in May of 1962.
Olaf's cause of death was acute volvulus.
Bell, C. E. (Ed.). (2001). Encyclopedia of the World's Zoos, 3, 1149. Retrieved from Google Books.
Coates, C. W. (2007). Walruses and whales in the New York Aquarium. International Zoo Yearbook, 4(1), 10-11. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1963.tb03602.x
New York Zoological Society. (1962). Annual Report of the New York Zoological Society, Vol. 67, p. 39. Retrieved from Archive.org.
New York Zoological Society. (1963). Annual Report of the New York Zoological Society, Vol. 68, p. 47. Retrieved from Archive.org.
New York Zoological Society. (1966). Annual Report of the New York Zoological Society, Vol. 71, p. 52. Retrieved from Archive.org.
Touch of gout, old boy? (1956, October 11). Santa Cruz Sentinel, p. 20. Retrieved from Newspapers.com.
What does the walrus say? When do we eat! (1956, October 28). Daily News, p. 644. Retrieved from Newspapers.com.