"Heavyweight" visual impact: Watch a 1,700 kg walrus being fed inside a glass enclosure

▲ Hong Kong Ocean Park is a great place to bring kids to meet adorable marine creatures.

Reported and photographed by Chen Hanyin / Hong Kong

Hong Kong Ocean Park is a marine-themed amusement park that combines rides with an aquarium. In addition to various attractions, the park offers many up-close animal encounters, such as polar penguin feeding and seal kissing, which are beloved by visitors of all ages. The star attraction in the Polar Adventure — the Pacific walrus feeding show — is an unmissable zero-distance experience.

▲ Walruses playfully swimming in the water.

▲ A massive adult walrus presents an impressive sight.

Pacific walruses mainly inhabit the Arctic Ocean. To stay warm in the harsh cold, they have a thick layer of blubber to retain heat and need to consume 30–35 kg of food daily. An adult male walrus can weigh up to 1,700 kg, while females can reach 1,250 kg. Witnessing their massive bodies up close leaves visitors amazed, exclaiming, "So impressive!"

▲ The transparent enclosure allows visitors to get a close-up view of the walruses.

In 2016, Hong Kong Ocean Park was awarded the "Animal Welfare Certification" by the Humane Society International’s Global Animal Partnership program, becoming the first park in Asia to receive this honor. Committed to marine conservation and humane treatment, the park is home to two walruses: 14-year-old male Rock and 17-year-old female Miru. During feeding time, visitors can witness the walruses’ astonishing appetite.

▲ Mischievous Rock broke one of his teeth while playing.

▲ The park has been trying to breed Rock and Miru, but Rock has yet to succeed in his courtship.

The long tusks at the front of a walrus are actually elongated canine teeth, which can grow up to 1 meter in length. The longer the tusks, the higher the walrus's status within the group. They use their tusks to break breathing holes in the ice and to haul their massive bodies out of the water. Male walruses also use their tusks to defend territory and mates. The park has specially installed two "glass protective enclosures," allowing visitors to peer out from below and witness the impactful sight of a 1,700 kg body in motion.