Alaska Officials: Evidence in 25 Walrus Deaths Points to Humans
Federal authorities believe they’ve identified suspects who killed 25 wild walrus and tore out their tusks last month, leaving their bodies to rot on a northern Alaskan beach.
No charges have been filed yet, and the investigation remains open, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “believes it has identified responsible individuals,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. Federal prosecutors declined further comment.
Initial reports of the case indicated that 13 walrus adults and 12 pups found near Cape Lisburne had been shot and that some were decapitated, raising suspicion that the deaths were a result of illegal ivory poaching.
Alaska natives are permitted to hunt an unlimited number of walrus in the state, as long as they take the whole body and follow other federal regulations. If the animal is found dead, any collected bones, teeth, and ivory from the carcass must be registered with wildlife officials within 30 days of being found, as per the Marine Mammal Act.
However, killing walrus solely for their ivory is illegal—no matter who does the killing. The Eskimo Walrus Commission, a nonprofit organization focused on providing services to Alaska native communities, is one of the major groups working closely on the case to ensure native hunters are following walrus hunting guidelines.
“We encourage and support all member communities from Barrow to Bristol Bay region to harvest walrus that is needed for food and creation of handicrafts in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act,” the board for the Eskimo Walrus Commission said in a statement.
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Original article from TakePart
