Russian Navy Boat Sinks in Arctic Ocean After Walrus Attacks to Protect Her Cubs

Never underestimate the power of maternal love. CBS News reports that a Russian navy landing boat sunk last week when a female walrus attacked amid concerns that her cubs were possibly in danger.

As researchers from the Russian Geographical Society made their way to the shore of Cape Geller in the Arctic Ocean in a small inflatable rubber landing craft, a walrus tapped into her motherly instincts, attacking the boat in an effort to protect her cubs.  

“During the landing at Cape Heller, a group of researchers had to flee from a female walrus, which, protecting its cubs, attacked an expedition boat,” the Northern Fleet, Russia’s naval fleet in the Arctic Ocean, said in a statement, per Newsweek. “Serious troubles were avoided thanks to the clear and well-coordinated actions of the Northern Fleet servicemen, who were able to take the boat away from the animals without harming them.”

The Russian Geographical Society was working with the Northern Fleet as part of a joint expedition to investigate the flora and fauna located around the Franz Josef Land archipelago. While there has been no mention that the boat actually sunk, the RGO used its statement to confirm that everyone inside reached shore safely while also acknowledging that the walrus acted in a way that could be perceived as her probably “fearing for her cubs.”