SeaWorld Orlando baby walrus Annautaq drinking from a bottle held by members of the SeaWorld animal care team

SeaWorld Orlando Baby Walrus: Meet Rescued Calf Annautaq

October 21, 2026October 29, 2026 by onthegoinmco No Comments

Annautaq, a five-month-old rescued Pacific walrus calf, now lives at SeaWorld Orlando.
He was found orphaned on a remote northern Alaska beach, rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center and flown about 4,000 miles to Florida.
He is in a 30-day quarantine with round-the-clock care; public viewing and herd introductions will come later, at his pace.

Meet SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescued Baby Walrus, Annautaq

SeaWorld Orlando’s newest baby walrus is Annautaq, a five-month-old male Pacific walrus calf who weighs about 220 pounds. SeaWorld Orlando announced on Oct. 21, 2026, that he has arrived from Alaska, where he was found orphaned on a remote beach and cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.

His rescue took a whole team. Wildlife research intern and local community member Violet Anniskett and U.S. Geological Survey scientist Tony Fischbach found him alone after a walrus herd left during heavy surf. He was hiding between the remains of two adult walruses while scavenging birds circled. They cared for him for several days before he was flown to the Alaska SeaLife Center, with help from the local community and federal wildlife officials.

Anniskett named him Annautaq (pronounced “ah-now-tuq”), which means “axe” in Iñupiaq, in honor of her father’s Iñupiaq name. FedEx and Orlando International Airport helped carry him on the 4,000-mile trip to his new home.

Watch Annautaq’s arrival at SeaWorld Orlando. Video provided by SeaWorld Orlando.

Key Details & Highlights

Dates & Availability: Annautaq is in a planned 30-day quarantine to protect the health of the resident walruses. His care team will decide when he meets the herd and when guests can see him.
Location: SeaWorld Orlando, where the resident walrus herd lives in the Expedition Odyssey animal habitat.
Around-the-Clock Care:
- Up to six bottle feedings a day of a specialized high-fat milk formula that SeaWorld developed to mimic walrus milk
- Veterinary care and 24-hour companionship from the animal care team
The Herd He Will Join:
- Uki, 2: also rescued in Alaska and rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center; she has bonded with Kaboodle
- Kaboodle, 23: an experienced mother and surrogate to rescued calves, including Uki
- Garfield, 44: rescued as an orphaned calf in Alaska and hand-raised at SeaWorld Orlando
Why He Can’t Go Back to the Wild: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined he could not be released. Walrus calves rely only on their mother’s milk for their first year and need her for protection and to learn survival skills.

Swipe through Annautaq’s journey from Alaska to Orlando. Photos provided by SeaWorld Orlando.

Rescued Pacific walrus calf Annautaq resting beside a caregiver in northern Alaska after he was found during U.S. Geological Survey work — Found orphaned in northern Alaska, Annautaq got round-the-clock care before his flight to Seward.

Wildlife research intern standing over orphaned Pacific walrus calf Annautaq on the Alaska tundra at sunset — Found orphaned in northern Alaska, Annautaq got round-the-clock care before his flight to Seward.

“Kaboodle’s experience caring for rescued calves and the opportunity to connect with two-year-old Uki, herself a rescued walrus, make this herd a promising setting for him to learn, build relationships and grow.”
— Jim Kinsler, Curator, SeaWorld Orlando

What You Need to Know Before You Visit

You won’t be able to see Annautaq right away. While he finishes quarantine and gets to know the herd, you can still visit his future family, Uki, Kaboodle and Garfield, at Expedition Odyssey and learn how walruses bond and communicate. SeaWorld Orlando is one of only four places in the U.S. currently able to house walruses, so it’s one of the few spots to see them up close.

For updates on when he makes his public debut, follow SeaWorld (@SeaWorld) and SeaWorld Orlando (@SeaWorldOrlando) on Instagram, and the Alaska SeaLife Center (@AlaskaSeaLifeCenter) for photos from his rescue. Planning a park day? Check out our SeaWorld Orlando coverage, including the park’s Inside Look program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the baby walrus at SeaWorld Orlando?

Not yet. Annautaq is in a planned 30-day quarantine, and his care team will decide when guests can see him. You can visit the resident walrus herd at Expedition Odyssey in the meantime.

How old is Annautaq, and how big is he?

He is a five-month-old male Pacific walrus calf who weighs about 220 pounds.

What does the name Annautaq mean?

Annautaq (pronounced “ah-now-tuq”) means “axe” in Iñupiaq. Violet Anniskett, who helped find him, named him in honor of her father’s Iñupiaq name.

Why can’t Annautaq be released into the wild?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined he could not be released because walrus calves depend on their mothers for milk, protection and survival skills throughout their first year.