Olaf

male Atlantic walrus (O. r. rosmarus)

wild caught in 1956

deceased on December 14th, 1966

Ancestors and Descendants

No known related animals.

Transfer History

  1. capture 1956 in Greenland

  2. transfer 1956-Oct-09 to New York Aquarium

  3. death 1966-Dec-14 at New York Aquarium

Physical Data

The dates listed here generally represent the time at which the measurements were published, not necessarily the date on which they were taken.

Weight

  • 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

Tusk length

  • 1956-Oct-28: "a couple of inches"

Daily diet

  • 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"

Image Gallery

No images available at this time.

Notes and Information

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.

References

  • 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.