Chopa

Чопа

female Pacific walrus (O. r. divergens) 

wild caught on October 14th, 2018

unknown status as of 2023

Ancestors and Descendants

None known at this time.

Transfer History

Notes and Information

This walrus was part of a herd of six captured by LLC Oceanarium DV (five walruses) and LLC Sochi Dolphinarium (one individual) "near the villages of Inchoun and Enurmino". The herd was initially housed at the Center for the Adaptation of Marine Mammals, operated by Russia's Pacific Fisheries and Oceanography Research Institute (TINRO). 

One of the walruses was purchased on February 4th, 2019, while the remaining five were purchased on November 17th -- on November 25th a permit was filed by LLC Aquatoria for the export of the six animals to unspecified Chinese facilities, and the following day the walruses were flown to Aquatoria's Yalta facility.

Questions arose surrounding the legality of the walruses capture and sale; by September of 2020 the herd had been confiscated from Aquatoria and into the legal ownership of the Russian Federation. 

Due to their young age at capture and extensive contact with humans the animals were deemed to be nonreleasable, and the decision was ultimately made to transfer them to the Moscow Zoo, which at that time had a new Pinnipeds exhibit complex under construction featuring a walrus habitat.

The transfer of the five surviving walruses to the Moscow Zoo was announced on September 15th, 2021, although I have no confirmation at this time of when the transfer actually took place. The walruses were still present at Aquatoria Yalta on September 2nd, when transfer crates were moved to the facility to prepare the animals for loading.

Walruses Ronda and Chopa were last sighted at the Moscow Zoo via content uploaded by park guests in December of 2023 and April of 2024. I am uncertain at this time which dates correspond with which of the animals. 

References