Photo by acacia.johnson / I've long been fascinated by walrus. What other species has evolved over millions of years into a specialized clam-eater, with three-foot (1m) tusks and color-changing skin that can be up to four inches (10cm) thick? They're almost too strange to seem real—but walrus are indeed real, beautiful, and otherworldly, and increasingly deserving of attention as temperatures rise across the Arctic. This summer, I traveled to Alaska's Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, where male Pacific walrus have gathered each summer for thousands of years—and where a state-run visitor program allows travelers to camp in the heart of this ancient habitat. Follow the link in bio to read more about the experience and the vital role that walrus play in the marine ecosystem. #walrus #walrusislands #alaska #roundisland