Vadim Makhorov
The Gathering
Pacific walruses, Russia, 2025
Category - Polar Regions
The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is the largest species of walrus – males can reach up to four metres in length and weigh as much as 1.5 tons. This photograph shows a walrus haulout on Ratmanov Island, on the maritime border between Russia and the United States. The entire southern coastline of the island is occupied by walruses, most of them males. Females only come ashore during the breeding season. They may appear immobile on land, but are fast and agile in the water. Understanding how they use the coastline helps keep encounters safe for both wildlife and people.
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12.29 mm f/2.8 Lens - 1/120 sec at f/2.8 ISO 200