Walrus calves from Quebec arrive at Vancouver Aquarium - Action News
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Walrus calves from Quebec arrive at Vancouver Aquarium

Lakina and Balzak were born in May 2016 at Aquarium du Qubec and will be on display at the Vancouver Aquarium sometime in 2018. Staff say the animals will help biologists study how to better protect the species in the wild.

Lakina and Balzak were born in May 2016 at Aquarium du Qubec

A walrus swims at Vancouver Aquarium
One of two walruses bred in captivity at an aquarium in Quebec swims at the Vancouver Aquarium in December 2017. The two walruses, named Lakina and Balzak, will remain in B.C. (Ocean Wise)

Two young walruses, born in captivity in Quebec, are settling in at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Lakina, a female, and Balzak, a male, arrived this week.They were delivered days apart in the spring of 2016 and are believed to be the first live full-term baby walruses to be born in captivity in Canada.

The Aquarium duQubecsaid that the two animals weresent to Vancouver to make more room for its other adult walruses.

Theanimals are half-siblings; they share the same father Boris but different mothers ArnaliaqandSamka.

Staff at the Vancouver Aquarium are spending time getting to know the walruses, Lakina and Balzak.
Staff at the Vancouver Aquarium are spending time getting to know Lakina and Balzak. (Ocean Wise)

Staff at the aquarium in Vancouver are working withLakina and Balzak,trying to get to know them, to "develop the strong, trusting relationship crucial to animal care," the aquarium said in a statement.

There are also staff from the Aquarium duQubecin Vancouver to help with the transition.

Watch as the two marine mammals, swim and interact with Vancouver Aquarium staff:

Quebec walruses settle in at Vancouver Aquarium

7 years ago
Duration 0:39
Guests to the Vancouver Aquarium will get to see Lakina and Balzak sometime in 2018.

The aquarium says visitors to the facility in Stanley Park will be able to view the animals sometime in the new year.

In the meantime, officials say they will share information, photos and videos of the marine mammals over social media.

Officials say very little is known about the Arctic marine mammals, but Lakina and Balzak will help change that.

Thepairwill also help the aquarium teach visitors about the threat allArctic animals are facing due to climate change.

"We look forward to providing our visitors with the opportunity to connect with and learn from these charismatic animals," saidDolfDeJong, vice-president and general manager of the Vancouver Aquarium.

A close up image of a walrus' face in the water
The scientific name for walrus is Odobenus rosmarus tooth-walking seahorse. Vancouver Aquarium staff say there's been limited research on these Arctic mammals. (Ocean Wise)

Boycott

Activists with the Vancouver-based Lifeforce Foundation have called for a boycott of the Vancouver Aquarium and the Aquarium duQubec, claiming the move is traumatic to mother walrus and babies.

Lifeforcealso points out that four cetaceans two beluga whales, a harbour porpoise and and a false killer whale have died at the Vancouver Aquarium in the last year and says the facility should be in quarantine.