35,000 walruses forced onto beach in Alaska with ice sheets melting

35,000 walruses have been forced to come ashore on a beach in Alaska with experts blaming the loss of Arctic sea ice and climate change.

The US is rerouting flights in order to avoid scaring the animals.

The phenomenon has occurred at Point Lay, a village north-west of Anchorage, and was noticed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Walruses use ice sheets to rest and scientists have linked the gathering to the loss of summer sea ice forcing the animals onto dry land.

Fears that the animals could panic and cause a mass stampede has led to the Federal Aviation Authority has rerouting flights, while locals and the media have been asked to stay away.

Margaret Williams, managing director of the WWF’s Arctic programme, said: “It’s another remarkable sign of the dramatic environmental conditions changing as the result of sea ice loss. The walruses are telling us what the polar bears have told us and what many indigenous people have told us in the high Arctic, and that is that the Arctic environment is changing extremely rapidly and it is time for the rest of the world to take notice and also to take action to address the root causes of climate change.”

Scientists found earlier this year that some emperor penguins in Antarctica have been forced to climb high ice walls to reach new breeding grounds, with their regular habitat has been affected by warming.