Roberta

female Pacific walrus (O. r. divergens)

wild caught ≥ 1968

unknown status ≥ 1968

Ancestors and Descendants

No known related animals.

Transfer History

  1. capture ≥ 1968 in Gambell, Alaska

  2. transfer ≥ 1968 at Biological Sonar Laboratory

  3. unknown ≥ 1968 at Biological Sonar Laboratory

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

  • 1969-Dec: 120 lbs (15 days old)

Image Gallery

No images available at this time.

Notes and Information

This walrus was named after Roberta Slwooko, the 9-year-old youngest daughter of the family hosting scientist Thomas Poulter during his residence in Gambell, Alaska, where he acquired this pup and at least one other.

This walrus is assumed to have been captured in either 1968 or 1969; Thomas Poulter, founder of the Bio-Sonar Lab, was known to have been present on a walrus hunt off of Saint Lawrence Island in 1968, where he may have acquired the pups -- otherwise the first mention of her existence was in December of 1969.

There is no information regarding whether or not this walrus was ever transferred from the laboratory or when she ultimately died. Poulter mentioned the walruses in a 1970 interview and a 1973 letter, which is the final known reference to the animals, although neither source mention the individuals in present tense or otherwise explicitly states that they are still living and present at his facility.

References