'Thor' the walrus is thought to be healthy ahead of his journey back to Norway, according to an expert who has been closely monitoring the mammal in Blyth.
The approximately 8ft long Arctic Walrus shocked residents in Blyth on Monday when he was spotted resting on a wooden pontoon at the local yacht club. The young male, which is believed to weigh around half-a-ton, arrived in Northumberland around lunchtime on Monday and is reported to have left Blyth at around 6.30am on Tuesday, according to reports.
It follows a short stay in Scarborough on New Year's Eve which amazed thousands of onlookers who observed the surreal sight from behind a police cordon. Scarborough Council decided to cancel its New Year's Eve fireworks display as part of the multi-agency effort to stop the massive animal getting agitated and coming to harm.
Read more: Thor the wandering walrus turns up again to delight of onlookers – this time on the shores of Blyth
However, the wandering walrus was on his travels again by the evening of December 31 venturing 100 miles north before stopping in Blyth. And after an overnight rest it was off on its journey again within hours.
Those who have been monitoring 'Thor' believe he is heading back to Norway and had stopped in Blyth to rest before continuing his journey. Observations indicate that the walrus "seems healthy" and has "no medical issue at the moment", an expert from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) added.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Darren Martin from BDMLR, said: "We've had a look with binoculars and there's no medical issue at the moment.
"It seems healthy enough, it's resting, it's stretching out. It's doing all the behaviour that normal pinnipeds do."
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