# @natgeo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CVwbtjoN9LT
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/11682607-natgeo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/c5ef49dd17.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-11-02T02:30:29.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Geographic (@NatGeo) — https://gondola.cc/NatGeo

## Caption

Photo by acacia.johnson / At sunrise, Pacific walrus wallow off the shore of Round Island, part of Alaska's Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary. Every summer, thousands of male walrus gather to rest on this remote island while the females migrate north with the receding sea ice edge to give birth. 

Walrus are a keystone species, meaning they help shore up the entire biotic community they live in. When they forage on the seafloor, they churn up vast quantities of nutrient-rich sediment, providing food for smaller organisms on up to seabirds, larger fish, seals, and even polar bears further north. But despite their vital role in the ecosystem, they often fall low on the priority list for conservation. Follow the link in bio to learn more about them and the experience of camping alongside them in Alaska's Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary. #walrus #alaska #walrusislands

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 149,582
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 452

## Tags

walrus, alaska, walrusislands

---
Copyright (c) Gondola