There is just no peace for walruses in Alaska. As if the melting of the Arctic ice weren't enough to undermine its habitat (we all still have images of walruses massed on the banks due to the lack of ice), the nefarious hypothesis of Shell drilling in search of black gold in the north of the planet.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Its there is no peace for walruses in Alaska. As if the melting of the Arctic ice weren't enough to undermine its habitat (we still have them all piled up on the shores due to the lack of ice), the nefarious hypothesis of Shell drilling on the hunt for black gold in the north of the planet.
The oil company had already tried with exploratory searches in 2012 and then turned back following the incidents, and we like to think also because of the massive protests carried out by Greenpeace in the first place. Shell had justified the abandonment of the drilling plans with a lack of economic convenience, but here it is back to get under. In fact, the company obtained documents from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for resume drilling north of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea. Shell's goal is to drill over several years six wells taking advantage of the ice retreat that alternates throughout the year and thus maximizing the extractions.
Bad news for walruses consists in the fact that the places intended for drilling are located along the movement areas of the flocks and in areas that serve for rest, reproduction and nutrition.
In the image made available online by the US Geological Survey, author of the study in question, it is possible to understand the relationship between Shell's projects and the life of walruses. The yellow lines show the movements of a group of walruses in July 2013 and the red Xs the individuals equipped with radio devices placed by the researchers. The green outline indicates the locations identified for oil drilling administered by the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and also includes those that Shell is evaluating.
Alaska is a place not only rich in resources, but above all rich in biodiversity and these wells would affect very important areas such as the Chukchi Sea which from a biological point of view are places where Arctic sea ice tends to remain stable longer than other areas. Multidisciplinary investigations are still underway here, studying biological life, chemical-physical interactions and the fauna present, such as schools of fish, from different scientific approaches.
"The schools of fish and the integrity of the area are vital to ensure the habitat of the walruses, also considering that climate change is undermining the Arctic ice," he said. Margaret Williams, director of Arctic programs for the World Wildlife Fund “The risks to walruses (and obviously to other marine life forms) are correlated with the disturbances caused by ship traffic and the fallout from oil spills. The containment and cleaning of hydrocarbons is particularly challenging in frozen waters not to mention that the closest Coast Guard station is in the state of Kodiak, that is, far from the areas involved in drilling. It is an incredible place, full of life, with a rich food chain ", declares Willaims. "If oil and gas drilling continues, there is fear of a potential environmental disaster."
Their rush continues and nature (and all of us) risk paying dearly for their greed.
Christian Prior
READ also:
Climate, 35.000 walruses piled on a beach: they have no more ice to go to
Shell will not drill the Arctic
Shell stops drilling in the Arctic. Greenpeace rejoices
