At first glance, this amazing video doesn’t seem like much. Give it a few more moments and you may feel mesmerized. A remote and rugged Southern Alaskan island has reopened to the public in a huge way.
Round Island’s robotic webcam, which has been inactive for years, has been reactivated by the grace of a grant to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The stream first opened in 2005, but closed for lack of funding. Thanks to the generous wallet of Explore.org, internet users can once again watch a live stream of walrus gatherings. These walruses are living their version of The Truman Show. Here’s the kicker: Only male walruses — up 14,000 of them per year — gather on this island. You see, the female walruses are all busy raising pups. This is a special space where the dudes can get their walrus “man cave” on.
Those who wish to visit Round Island may be in luck. The grant will employ two employees to welcome visitors and prevent disruption of the walruses. Visitors are warned to expect extreme weather, difficult terrain and a lack of medical facilities. For those who don’t wish to make the trip, this live cam will do just fine. The only time the stream shuts off is during an annual weeklong walrus hunt by Alaska Natives. Try not to think about the bloodbath while you watch this hypnotic scene.
(Via The Guardian and Explore)