Mitik recovering from health issues and receiving around-the-clock care at aquarium

Mitik, an orphaned walrus calf rescued off the coast of Barrow, Alaska, continues to recover at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium. He receives around-the-clock care from our animal care staff and veterinarians.

“Our veterinarians report to us daily on Mitik’s condition,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, WCS Vice President and Director of the New York Aquarium. “We anticipate each health report of Mitik with hope and concern.”

After he was rescued in July and brought to the Alaska SeaLife Center, Mitik was diagnosed with a bladder infection, a high white blood cell count, and was badly dehydrated. (Initially, his caregivers did not think he would survive.)

After arriving at the aquarium a week ago, Mitik is responding well to medications and is gaining as much as a half a pound each day. His last weigh-in put him at 242 pounds. He is bottle-fed every four hours.

Image courtesy Wildlife Conservation Society