INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Indianapolis Zoo has two cute new additions.
The zoo has added a pair of 2-year-old walruses to its Oceans area. Aku and Ginger are Pacific walruses. Aku is a male and Ginger is a female. They got to the zoo earlier this week and are already on display.
The pair was previously in Florida at SeaWorld Orlando. Aku was rescued from Alaska by the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2017. Ginger was born at SeaWorld.
Gold miners found Aku on the deck of a barge. His name means "stern of boat" in Alaska's native language.
The Indianapolis Zoo sent walruses who were previously there to other locations earlier this week as part of a species survival plan.
According to the zoo, there are only 14 walruses in human care in the United States. Only four zoos and aquariums have them. They are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change and melting sea ice.
