We are the walruses! Stunning pictures show mass gathering of the marine mammals piled on top of each other on a Russian beach

Hundreds of walruses were pictured clambering on top of each other on a Russian shore facing Alaska[CN]

上百头海象被拍到与阿拉加斯加隔海相望的俄国沙滩上叠罗汉。

A number of the marine mammals had been separated from group and were seen reclining on the beach[CN]

很多这种海生哺乳动物与群众分开，人们看到它们在沙滩上休憩。

The spectacular images were taken by wildlife photographer Mike Korostelev, 34, on the Cape Vankarem 
[CN]

这壮观的画面是野生动物摄影师Mike Korostelev拍下的，他34岁，在Cape Vankarem拍下的照片。

Photographer Mike Korostelev took this picture of a walrus lazing on the beachfront in Chukotka, in Russia
[CN]

摄影师Mike Korostelev拍到，这一堆的海象懒洋洋躺在俄国Chukotka海滨地区上。

The photographer spotted this lone walrus, who was sleeping on the shore, with its tusks sticking into the sand[CN]

摄影师还看到了这头独自躺着的海象，正在沙滩上睡觉，长牙嵌入沙里。

Reclining on its back, this walrus was spotted away from the crowd, with its fin resting on its stomach[CN]

海象背躺沙滩，人群从大老远看到了它，它的鳍安放在肚子上。

Walruses jostle for position with one another during a mass gathering at Chukotka, on the shore facing Alaska[CN]

海象彼此推搡，争夺位置，毕竟这么一大群的海象都在阿拉加斯加对面的俄国Chukotka沙滩上休息。

Hundreds of walruses were pictured packed together on the banks of the shore in Chukotka, in Russia[CN]

图中上百头海象挤成一块，地点是俄国Chukotka海岸的沙滩。

The large flippered marine mammals, characterised by their long tusks, spend significant amounts of their lives on the sea ice

Walruses live mostly in shallow waters above the continental shelves, spending much of their time on sea ice looking for benthic bivalve mollusks to eat
[CN]

海象主要生活在大陆架的浅水海域，大部分时间都在海冰之上寻找海栖壳类软体生物为食。

Walruses were pictured piled on top of each other in the dramatic pictures taken by Mike Korostelev[CN]

Mike Korostelev拍到戏剧性的照片，海象像叠罗汉般的堆在一起。

Walruses make their way to the shore from the Bering Strait in the stunning photos taken by Mike Korostelev

These breathtaking photos show an incredible gathering of walrus piled on top of each other on a shore facing Alaska.

The sight of walrus at Chukotka is a phenomenon that has accompanied the loss of sea ice as the climate has warned.

Unlike seals, walruses cannot swim indefinitely and must rest. They use their tusks to pull themselves onto ice or rocks. 

A number of the walruses separated from the pack were pictured reclining on their front or slumbering on their back while splayed out on the pebbly beach front.

The spectacular images were taken by wildlife photographer Mike Korostelev, 34, on the Cape Vankarem. 

'Every year walruses swim here and they come close to humans', he said.  

'I came across a lone walrus who was sleeping on the shore, so I crept up to it and photographed it with a wide-angle lens.'

He added: 'I was very careful not to disturb the walruses. Through my work, I would like to show people that seeing animals in nature is much more interesting than going to the zoo.

'I want to show what an incredible world we have and how it can only be saved for future generations if we all work together.'

Walruses are bulky beasts, weighing up to two tonnes, with tusks that can grow to 80cm (30in) in length.

They split into sub-herds which divide the males and females when they are not mating.

To mark their dominance, males use their tusks and bodies in a mark of aggression.

They spend a lot of their time in shallow waters and on the beach front where they congregate in large groups.