White House Puts Walrus Hotspot Under New Protections

Every year, thousands of Pacific walrus gather to feed and raise their young along a shallow, 30-mile-long shelf off the coast of northwest Alaska. One of the Chukchi Sea's most biologically productive spots, it is an important feeding ground for bowhead whales too. And yet, it also happens to be just downstream from a number of oil and gas leases. Now, the US federal government is stepping in, granting new protections to ensure the safety of the spot.