Russian Navy Boat Sinks In The Arctic Following Walrus Attack

A Russian Navy lander boat recently sank in the Arctic Ocean after it was attacked by a walrus.

The incident occurred off the shore of Cape Geller in the Arctic when members of Russia’s Northern Fleet and the Russian Geographical Society were heading to shore. A female walrus confronted the boat when it came close to her calves and began attacking. The crew was able to get away from the walrus and landed safely on shore, but the boat sank shortly after.

Another boat was sent to pick up the crew and no injuries were reported following the attack.

“Serious troubles were avoided thanks to the clear and well-coordinated actions of the Northern Fleet servicemen, who were able to take the boat away from the animals without harming them,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The crew was in the Arctic as part of a joint mission near the Franz Josef Land archipelago to study the local flora, fauna, and glaciers. It was also following and mapping the paths of Austro-Hungarian explorer Julius von Payer took in 1874 and American journalist Walter Wellman in 1898.

“Recently, we wrote about the risks that accompany expedition members,” the RGS wrote in a statement. “Wild animals, storms, low temperatures. The incident is another confirmation that no one is expecting humans in the Arctic.”