An Arctic walrus known as Wally has become the first of its kind to be spotted off the coast of Cornwall after previous run-ins with lifeboat crews in Wales.
Wally the Walrus was last spotted three days ago in Tenby, South Wales, where it seemed to have become a permanent resident, regularly seen lolling on a RNLI slipway.
Now a walrus matching Wally’s description has been seen off the coast of Cornwall in Padstow, in what Cornwall Wildlife Trust said was "absolutely a first".
On Monday, a Tenby lifeboat crew had to use new tactics, including a hose pipe, to get the 600kg mammal to move off its slipway - which is used for life-saving boats in an emergency.
An RNLI spokeswoman said lifeboat crews had been getting advice from marine mammal welfare organisations on how to move Wally.
"During a routine exercise on Monday, the airhorn did not prove successful so the crew were advised by experts to trial a gentle fresh-water hose pipe, which successfully moved Wally on,” she said.
Wally had not been seen in Wales since but Padstow Sealife Safaris reported a sighting of a walrus on Thursday. The safari firm wrote on Facebook: "This afternoon our passengers and crew were absolutely astounded to spot what they first thought was a very large seal, only for it to pop up and reveal a pair of tusks."
Wally is believed to have reached the British Isles from the Arctic on an ice floe, meaning its may have travelled in the region of 2,650 miles. Experts said it was reasonable to assume the walrus spotted off Cornwall was Wally, which must have made the 70-nautical-mile journey across the Bristol Channel.
Lucy Babey, head of science & conservation at sealife charity ORCA, said Wally had an identifiable feature of white marks on its flipper that experts would need to see to confirm it was the same walrus.
“With walrus sightings in the UK being very rare and the fact that Padstow is only across the Bristol Channel from Tenby, it is highly plausible that it is the same animal exploring its environment,” said Ms Babey.
Abby Crosby, a marine conservation officer from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "It's absolutely a first and I'm amazed by this sighting.
"It's wonderful to hear he's on our coastline."