Magnus the Walrus Stops in Findochty After Five Scottish Sightings

A young male walrus named Magnus has reached Findochty this week after touring five Scottish coastal locations. The walrus, estimated at 8ft (2.5m) long, was first spotted on the Orkney island of Stronsay earlier this month before turning up in Lossiemouth, Macduff and Fraserburgh.

Findochty and Magnus

Cath Bain, British Divers Marine Life Rescue local area co-ordinator for Moray and Banffshire, said she could only guess where Magnus might next appear. “We thought that would probably be the last we would see of him - and then he appeared in Findochty.”

At Findochty, Magnus was “quite happily based on a pontoon.” Bain said: “At one point he was lying asleep and was obviously a little too close to the edge and he rolled himself off the pontoon and into the water.” She also said: “Luckily by the fact he's on the floating pontoons means people can watch him without getting too close, which is ideal.”

British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Bain said public behaviour around the walrus had been calm. “In general, people have been very respectful and are just watching him very quietly, and letting him rest,” she said. “We've had lots of families come down, some schoolchildren came down, he seems to be quite happy with all of that.” Bain added: “A lot of people have had a chance to see their first ever walrus, which is lovely.”

Magnus appeared to be in quite good condition aside from some superficial scrapes. He had been seen scratching against metal posts and rolling into the water while asleep, signs that local watchers tracked as he moved from one stop to the next.

Scottish coastline

Walruses are occasional visitors to UK shores, but sightings have increased in recent years. One theory links that rise to the loss of sea ice habitats in the Arctic. Against that backdrop, Magnus's route from Stronsay to Findochty has become a string of closely watched stops rather than a single brief visit.

By Tuesday morning, Magnus appeared to have moved on again. Bain said the next stop was only a guess, leaving communities along the Scottish coast watching for another appearance and a likely repeat of the quiet crowds that gathered in Findochty.