The public has repeatedly been told to give Wally a very wide berth.

Executive Director of Seal Rescue Ireland Melanie Croce has once again urged the public to stay at least 100 metres away from Wally the Walrus, the 800kg Arctic walrus who has been

The walrus is displaced from its home, and Cork TD Holly Cairns has urged the public not only to stay well away from the walrus, but also to stop sharing his location on social media, as it may attract more people who will not respect the mammal’s space.

Concerns have now arisen that Wally has also injured himself while climbing aboard a boat.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Croce said: “It is very exciting to have a walrus in our waters,” she said. “That is very, very rare for us and I can understand the curiosity but we just need to remember that he is not here to provide entertainment, he is actually just trying to survive.

“He has been displaced from his natural habitat which could be due to climate change and loss of sea ice but the fact of the matter is he needs to make his way back home and the only way that is going to happen is if he is able to rest and gather enough strength.

“Unfortunately, wherever he seems to show up, he is just getting swarmed by boats and people sticking cameras in his face – we have even had people trying to climb up onto the boat with him.

“So, he hasn’t had a chance to rest. He is constantly having to get on and off the boat and it may have caused an injury yesterday; there were some sharp objects in the boat.”

Header image via Clonakilty Distillery