Arctic walrus spotted along Co Waterford coastline

The Arctic walrus that was spotted off Co Kerry four months ago has now appeared at Clonea Strand and Ardmore Bay in Co Waterford, experts have confirmed.

Sightings officer with the Irish Dolphin and Whale Group Pádraig Whooley said the animal has distinctive white blotches on its left flipper.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Whooley said the walrus visited Wales, England and France, completing a 2,000km journey before returning to Ireland.

It is a remarkable story, he said, noting that it went as far south as La Rochelle, France.

Mr Whooley said he does not know why the walrus has returned to Ireland, but he hopes that it will spend a bit of time here before tracking back north towards a more comfortable habitat.

He added that walruses travel very fast in the water.

The animal was seen off Cornwall last Friday and covered 250km of open ocean to reach the Waterford coast, he noted.

Mr Whooley said: "Distances mean very, very little to this animal."

He urged the public to keep away from the walrus and give it a "respectful distance".