Dozens of Walruses Plunge From Cliffs

As many as five dozen walruses fell to their deaths from high bluffs in a southwestern Alaska wildlife refuge, leaving biologists wondering why. The mysterious behavior appears to be unique to a single part of the 4.3-million-acre Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, where the walruses have been plunging to their deaths for three years. On Tuesday, 41 to 60 walruses died after dropping off cliffs up to 100 feet high above a haulout, or beach area, at Cape Peirce, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. Refuge manager Aaron Archibeque said that because of their weight--which can exceed 2,000 pounds--the walruses can die or suffer massive internal injuries in even a relatively short fall.