This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/22/alaska-live-stream-walrus-round-island
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Alaska reopens online window on world of the walrus | Alaska reopens online window on world of the walrus |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Internet users across the world now have access to a remote Alaskan island and its thousands of marine mammals, after the state received a grant to bring a dormant live stream of walruses back to life. | |
The multimedia organization explore.org provided a grant to the Alaska department of fish and game, that with other donations, allows it to fund a stream of live footage of the creatures on Round Island, in southern Alaska. A private donor helped the fish and game department start a live stream of the island in 2005, but it was cancelled, primarily for lack of funding. | The multimedia organization explore.org provided a grant to the Alaska department of fish and game, that with other donations, allows it to fund a stream of live footage of the creatures on Round Island, in southern Alaska. A private donor helped the fish and game department start a live stream of the island in 2005, but it was cancelled, primarily for lack of funding. |
The money will also allow the state to employ two people on the island, where they will welcome visitors and try to control vehicles from disrupting the walruses – which can be up to 12ft long and may weigh up to two tons. Without the funds, the island would have been closed to visitors this year. | The money will also allow the state to employ two people on the island, where they will welcome visitors and try to control vehicles from disrupting the walruses – which can be up to 12ft long and may weigh up to two tons. Without the funds, the island would have been closed to visitors this year. |
Only 42 people visited Round Island last year, according to the AP, but up to 14,000 male Pacific walruses travel to the island while the females raise pups elsewhere. | Only 42 people visited Round Island last year, according to the AP, but up to 14,000 male Pacific walruses travel to the island while the females raise pups elsewhere. |
Humans who want to visit the island face treacherous conditions. | Humans who want to visit the island face treacherous conditions. |
“Round Island is a remote wilderness far from medical facilities,” the state warns. “Weather can be extreme and visitors are expected to be entirely self-sufficient. You must be in good physical condition to get on to and around the island.” | “Round Island is a remote wilderness far from medical facilities,” the state warns. “Weather can be extreme and visitors are expected to be entirely self-sufficient. You must be in good physical condition to get on to and around the island.” |
For everyone else, the camera will be available indefinitely, except for one week where it will be offline while Alaska Natives have a walrus hunt. | For everyone else, the camera will be available indefinitely, except for one week where it will be offline while Alaska Natives have a walrus hunt. |
Previous version
1
Next version