When rescuers first spotted the walrus drifting near the edge of the ice shelf, they knew something was terribly wrong. The massive marine mammal—normally powerful, alert, and commanding—moved sluggishly, its thick skin drenched in a dark layer of oil. Beneath the heavy coating, the walrus struggled to breathe, its whiskers clumped together, its eyes stinging and half-shut.
Oil spills have long been one of the most devastating threats to Arctic wildlife, but witnessing the impact up close was a reminder of how fragile the natural world truly is. For the rescue team, there was no time to
