Jemmy

male walrus (O. rosmarus)

wild caught on August 28th, 1867

deceased on December 19th, 1967

Ancestors and Descendants

No known relatives.

Transfer History

  1. capture 1867-Aug-28 in Davis Strait

  2. transfer 1867 to London Zoo

  3. death 1867-Dec-19 at London Zoo

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

  • 1867: 250 lb

Length

  • 1867: 8 ft

Tusk length

  • 1867: "very short"

Daily diet

  • 1867: "thin slips of boiled pork" [initial diet aboard the whaling ship it was captured on]

  • 1867: fresh mussels [supply acquired upon arrival to the Shetlands]

Image Gallery

No images available at this time.

Notes and Information

This walrus was said to have arrived at London "around October 28", and was purchased by the zoo for £205 (the equivalent of over £23,000 in 2019) on November 1st.

Jemmy's cause of death was chronic gastritis, brought on by an infestation of Ascaris sp. intestinal roundworms.

References

  • 1929. Major S. S. Flower. List of the Vertebrated Animals Exhibited in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London 1828 – 1927: Centenary Edition, vol. 1, Mammals. Retrieved by Tim May.

  • 1905. Henry Scherren. The Zoological Society of London, p. 139-140. Retrieved from Archive.org.

  • 1883. London Zoo. List of the Vertebrated Animals Now Or Lately Living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London, p. 91. Retrieved from Google Books.

  • 1880. Joel Asaph Allen. History of North American Pinnipeds, p. 141. Retrieved from Google Books.