# Can a pet walrus be kept? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 10, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526 "2009-07-10T03:05:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/1 "2009-07-10T03:05:11Z")
Say I had a large farm, including a lake, in a place like northern Maine; could a walrus be kept as a pet in this kind of environment? I assume it would survive alright if it had a steady diet of fish during the cold season, but would the summer heat be too much for the animal? Would it sweat to death or die of heat stroke if it was exposed to the hot sun for too long? Would it get bored without other walruses around, or could it have a decent time just living there by itself? Would this be legal? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/2 "2009-07-10T03:10:30Z")
No is the answer to a lot of your questions šŸ˜ƒ Walrus eat mollusks and things in the muck of the bottom. Unless you are planning on feeding it 200 pounds of herring or mackrel a day I doubt iot would survive in a 75 degree alpine lake. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/3 "2009-07-10T03:18:24Z")
Under the [Marine Mammal Protection Act](http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/) (MMPA) of 1972, it is illegal to ā€œtakeā€ any marine mammal, including walruses. ā€œTakeā€ is [defined as follows](http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/glossary.htm#take): > [@](#): > > **Take:** > [ul] > [li]Defined\*\*\* under the MMPA\*\*\* as ā€œharass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect.ā€[/li][li]Defined\*\*\* under the ESA\*\*\* as ā€œto harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.ā€[/li][/ul] So, no, you cannot keep a walrus as a pet. I assume zoos can get permits to possess them. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/4 "2009-07-10T03:28:18Z")
**Can a pet walrus be kept?** Yes, but it can be expensive. Donā€™t expect your walrus to settle for some fourth story walkup. Itā€™ll insist on a 2nd or 3rd floor studio, with a uniformed doorman _and an elevator!_šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/5 "2009-07-10T03:50:34Z")
> [@Dr. Seuss](#): > > A walrus with whiskers > Is not a good pet > And a walrus which whispers > Is worse even yet. Thereā€™s a walrus at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma. I donā€™t think you realize how big walruses are. It is monstrously huge. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/6 "2009-07-10T04:06:54Z")
Thanks for the answers, everyone. Goddamn, motherfucking cocksucking son of a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/7 "2009-07-10T04:54:20Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Goddamn, motherfucking cocksucking son of a bitch. Anyone we know? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/8 "2009-07-10T06:13:24Z")
And it needs seawater, not fresh. ---
**Author:** ![NH2112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NH2112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NH2112)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/9 "2009-07-10T13:59:28Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > a 75 degree alpine lake. I can assure you, no lake anywhere in Maine sees a water temperature of 75 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/10 "2009-07-10T14:10:06Z")
Plus, you have to provide it with a steady supply of buckets. ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/11 "2009-07-10T14:18:21Z")
A Walrus is listed on CITES Appendix III at the request of Canada which means they are regulated to prevent unsustainable exploitation. You can import one and if you get a permit which will require that the animal was captive bred (they donā€™t say so, they say ā€œnot illegally obtainedā€ but this generally means captive bred) and that it is shipped in a way that will not harm teh animal. In order to keep it, you will also need various permits at the Federal, State, and local level. Getting those permits takes a couple years, including being rejected and appealing, so you will have plenty of time to study up. But in general, if you donā€™t know enough about them to answer those questions by yourself, you canā€™t get a permit. As you should not. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/12 "2009-07-10T14:19:18Z")
OK, cā€™mon, background. . . WHAT brought this up?!? For a little size perspective (and chuckles): [The\_LOLrus](http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/01/14/i-has-a-bucket/) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/13 "2009-07-10T14:21:19Z")
Chumley) Da-a-heeā€¦A Gee Tennessee Mr Livingstone isnā€™t gonna like this Tennessee Tuxedo) Donā€™t be ridiculous Chumley, heā€™ll love it. For those of you who donā€™t know, it was Chumley not Tennessee that was the famous one. Stanley Livingstone, found Chumley living at the SOUTH POLE, with his best friend, Tennessee Tuxedo, a penguin. Thus Chumley was the worldā€™s only South Pole Walrus, and Stanley Livingstone, wanted to bring Chumley to his zoo. But Chumley would only go if Livingstone took his BFF Tennessee Tuxedo ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/14 "2009-07-10T14:24:14Z")
The first walrus I ever saw IRL was at an aquatic park in Galveston, Texas. It had apparently shed a lot of blubber in response to the warm weather. Its skin hung extremely loosely on its body. But it seemed to be healthy. It was doing tricks along with the sea lions in one of the shows. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/15 "2009-07-10T14:34:27Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > OK, cā€™mon, background. . . WHAT brought this up?!? > > For a little size perspective (and chuckles): > > [The\_LOLrus](http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/01/14/i-has-a-bucket/) So is that where this meme started? But that doesnā€™t even look like itā€™s (supposed to be) a walrus. Donā€™t they all have tusks? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/16 "2009-07-10T14:36:32Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > So is that where this meme started? > > But that doesnā€™t even look like itā€™s (supposed to be) a walrus. Donā€™t they all have tusks? The original is an elephant seal. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/17 "2009-07-10T14:37:48Z")
If you got one, youā€™d have to learn _Morse_ code to communicate with it. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/18 "2009-07-10T14:38:49Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The original is an elephant seal. Itā€™s actually an elephant seal or itā€™s a dummy made to look like one? Because it looks soā€¦bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/19 "2009-07-10T14:39:09Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Thanks for the answers, everyone. > > Goddamn, motherfucking cocksucking son of a bitch. Looks like your pigeon will have to settle for a puppy after all. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526/20 "2009-07-10T15:00:36Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Itā€™s actually an elephant seal or itā€™s a dummy made to look like one? Because it looks soā€¦bizarre. The original is a real elephant seal at a waterpark in Japan. One of his tricks involved the bucket and sticking his tongue out. I know the story is on cheezburger somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-pet-walrus-be-kept/502526.md?page=2)