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The Horniman walrus has always been popular with our visitors. It was one of the original creatures on display when the Museum first opened. The walrus came from Hudson Bay, Canada, and was mounted by a taxidermist about 1870. At that time, little was known about walrus anatomy, so the mount lacks the skin folds which would be present in nature.
The walrus was brought to Britain by J.H. Hubbard for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. It was registered in the Horniman collections in 1893. After being on display for many years, the walrus began to show signs of wear and tear. However, in 1986 a skilled taxidermist repaired the skin and restored the original colour. A model maker then made an artificial iceberg so that the walrus could be displayed in the open - just as it was 100 years ago.
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