Wally’s grand tour! Wandering walrus is on his travels again and turns up in FRANCE

Wally’s grand tour! Wandering walrus is on his travels again and turns up 390 miles away in FRANCE after he was last spotted in Cornwall

  • The arctic mammal has been spotted off the western coast of France this week
  • He was last seen in Cornwall, meaning he has travelled another 390 miles south
  • Experts believe he dozed off on a block of ice and drifted across the ocean 
  • Wally was first spotted in British waters in County Kerry, Ireland, earlier this year

Wally the Walrus has abandoned British waters for France having been spotted just off the western coast of the country. 

The Arctic mammal has brought delight to communities in Ireland, Pembrokeshire, Cornwall over the past few months in his nearly 2,000 mile adventure from his home in Greenland.  

He was last spotted earlier this month near Padstow, having first arrived in the British Isles in March, when he was seen in County Kerry in Ireland. 

Pictures show Wally the Walrus sunbathing on the rocks in Les Sables d’Olonne, France

It means Wally has swam a staggering 390 miles from his stop-off in Cornwall.

The mammal has been on quite an adventure from his home in the artic circle.  

Six days after first appearing in Ireland in March, the RSPCA were called out to check on the creature – which was ‘underweight’ – at the bottom of a cliff near Broad Haven South beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

But after becoming a known figure in the area, animal welfare groups believe he left after becoming ‘obviously disturbed’ by day-trippers getting too close.

Irresponsible tourists tried to approach him using jet-skis, paddleboards and drones as he rested on a RNLI slipway in the town’s harbour. 

It became a concern for RNLI volunteers, who had to resort to shooing Wally off the slipway, using brooms and airhorns to try to move the animal.     

Wally is believed to have drifted on ice from Greenland to County Kerry, Ireland before making his way to Tenby in Wales, then to Cornwall, and now to the western coast of France

Wally is believed to have drifted on ice from Greenland to County Kerry, Ireland before making his way to Tenby in Wales, then to Cornwall, and now to the western coast of France 

Wally was last spotted earlier this month near Padstow, 390 miles away from France

Wally was last spotted earlier this month near Padstow, 390 miles away from France 

It is believed he has been hit by a boat in his journey, but is being looked after by experts

It is believed he has been hit by a boat in his journey, but is being looked after by experts 

The RSPCA Cymru and Dyfed-Powys Police had to issue a plea to tourists to keep their distance from Wally, who is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Having spent months basking in the Welsh sunshine, he then travelled further south, popping up in Cornwall for a few days. 

But, he has now migrated further south to Les Sables d’Olonne in western France, making it the town’s first sighting of a Walrus in 50 years. 

The town’s Facebook page has revealed that the animal appears to have been hit by a boat during his journey, and that he is being cared for by experts. 

Wally the Walrus travelled from Wales to Cornwall, and has now migrated further south

Wally the Walrus travelled from Wales to Cornwall, and has now migrated further south

Photographs show Wally basking in the French sun on the rocks on May 27. 

People in Tenby are hopeful that Wally will return to Wales after his time in France, because he has become a local celebrity, with many shops selling Wally the Walrus merchandise.   

Experts believe that Wally may have initially dozed off on a block of ice and drifted across the ocean.  

RSPCA animal rescue officer Ellie West described Wally’s plight as ‘sad’ during Radio 4’s Today programme back in March.

Wally cause quite a scene in Wales when he lounged on the RNLI's slipway

Wally cause quite a scene in Wales when he lounged on the RNLI’s slipway 

Wally has become an icon back in Tenby, Wales, where shops are selling walrus merchandise

Wally has become an icon back in Tenby, Wales, where shops are selling walrus merchandise

It is hoped that the mammal will return to Tenby after his visit to the French coast

It is hoped that the mammal will return to Tenby after his visit to the French coast

She said at the time: ‘Whilst it is a very unusual sight […] it is quite a sad occurrence because we have to remember that this walrus is a very, very long way from where he should be.

‘We’re talking about a wild animal that’s still very mobile. He’s very big, we’re talking about much bigger than our normal seals. This one, although he’s of a large size he is a bit underweight.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk