Do you remember the cartoons Wally the Walrus or Tennessee Tuxedo? How about J. Pat O’Malley in Alice in Wonderland? The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carrol? Perhaps you are a golfer and remember Craig Stadler who looked and walked the part? Or a fan of the Beatles and John Lennon with the song I am the Walrus?  The walrus has been steeped in our culture, mostly portrayed as a chubby, happy-go-lucky character. In real life? Nope.

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus which literally means tooth-walker) is a very large marine mammal who mainly lives in the arctic. The Pacific walrus resides mostly around northern Alaska and Russian Siberia. The Atlantic walrus resides mostly around Greenland and Svalbard. We hope to see these creatures with their enormous tusks while in Svalbard. Why do walruses have such abnormally large tusks? They use them to help climb up on ice, fight predators, and threaten and fight each other. Both male and female walruses have tusks.

As it turns out, walruses spend a lot of time sleeping, about 20 hours per day (compare that with a cat which sleeps 12-16 hours per day). Our first encounter was at Poolepynten, Svalbard. We were told to keep very quiet as they spook easily. We arrived at the viewing area about 100 feet away to find a huddle of walrus sleeping. We stood, cameras in hand, ready to photograph them in action. Nothing much happened other than a grunt or two. They weren’t spooked at all. They never moved.

It was a beautiful day, nice background, everything setup for success. In the end, nothing. Just sleeping walruses.

At least we saw them. Later in the trip we revisited Poolepynten for a second try. This time there were none, pretty much the same photographic opportunity. Alas, we will see only a sleeping walrus. Unless, of course, we go to Smeerenburg. Surely, we will see active walruses in Smeerenburg.

Upon arrival we trek out to the viewing area where there is another huddle (maybe the same huddle) doing what they seem to do best – they are sleeping. To pass the time I try photographing a bird flying above.

Minute after minute pass without a stir from a walrus. It’s good there were other things to keep my attention.

Wait, there is movement. One of them raised a flipper while two others look on in astonishment.

Notice the abnormally large foot.

Then all hell breaks loose! Four of them are in conversation.

All of a sudden a bridge game broke out. I think I heard one say, “one spade”.

Now all of them enter the discussion.

The bridge game didn’t last too long as kibitzer joined the Frey.

Happier, we head back to the zodiac landing. But, on the way we saw two lumps in the water – two walruses. We look at them, they at us. Click!

A surreal moment, the two of them and the two of us, face to face. I reeled off 100 photos in just a few seconds. I decided to name them Ben and Jerry.

Our meetup with Ben and Jerry was one of the highlights of our Svalbard cruise. After spending some time with them, they are almost cute.