Citizen science project seeks volunteers to study Walrus from space
Image credit: A 3-month old walrus calf finds refuge on her mother’s back. © Paul Nicklen/National Geographic Stock / WWF-Canada.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and WWF are seeking the public’s help to search for walrus in thousands of satellite images taken from space, with the aim of learning more about how walrus will be impacted by the climate crisis. This project will interest geography students and their teachers. The ‘Walrus from Space’ research project is a census of Atlantic walrus and walrus from the Laptev Sea, using satellite images provided by space and intelligence company Maxar Technologies’ DigitalGlobe.
Walrus are facing the reality of the climate crisis as the Arctic warms up and summer ice disappears. More is needed to be known about these Arctic animals. The British Antarctic Survey and Worldwide Fund for Nature will be using the images from space to study 25,000 square kms of the Arctic Coastline, an area larger than Wales.
Working from their own home, aspiring conservationists of all ages can study satellite pictures online line, spot areas where walrus haul out onto the land and count them. They can register to participate at wwf.org.uk/walrusfromspace where they will be guided through a training module before joining the walrus census.
The data will give scientists a clearer picture of how each population of walrus is doing without disturbing the animals. The data will also help inform management decisions aimed at conservation efforts for the species which are threatened not only by climate change but also by increasing human activities in the Arctic.
The ‘Walrus From Space’ project, which is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, as well as RBC Tech For Nature and WWF supporters, aims to recruit more than 500,000 citizen scientists over the next five years. Over the course of the project counting methods will be continually refined and improved as data is gathered.