Printable Walrus Mask

printable walrus mask for kids

Those magnificent tusks, those extraordinary whiskers and that sheer magnificent bulk - our printable walrus mask is an Arctic icon and one of the most characterful designs in the collection! The walrus is one of the largest pinnipeds in the world, and this mask captures all that whiskery, tusked, barnacled magnificence perfectly. Perfect for Arctic animals school plays, polar habitat classroom projects, World Book Day, birthday parties, and impressively heavyweight imaginative play.

The walrus is a brilliant subject for Arctic ecosystems, polar habitats and climate change topics - its dependence on sea ice makes it one of the most visible indicators of Arctic warming, which opens up meaningful and important classroom conversations. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Walruses!

  • Both male and female walruses have tusks - the elongated canine teeth can grow up to 90cm long and are used for hauling themselves out of the water, establishing dominance and as ice picks for pulling themselves along frozen surfaces.
  • A walrus's whiskers (called vibrissae) are extraordinarily sensitive - they can detect shellfish buried under sand on the sea floor in complete darkness by sensing the minute water movements caused by a clam closing its shell.
  • Walruses can inflate air sacs in their throat - allowing them to float vertically while sleeping in the water, with their head bobbing above the surface. They can sleep this way for up to 19 hours during migrations.
  • Their skin changes colour dramatically - pink when warm (blood vessels dilate to cool the body), almost white when cold (blood vessels constrict to conserve heat), and a rich reddish-brown when dry.
  • Walrus colonies can contain thousands of individuals packed together on ice floes and beaches - the noise and smell of a large walrus haul-out is extraordinary, with animals constantly jostling, bellowing and flapping over the best resting spots.