Extralimital occurrences of Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, and Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus, in Bathurst Inlet, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Beluga and Walrus have discontinuous distributions in the Canadian Arctic, apparently resulting from a major geographical barrier or gap in the central Canadian Arctic separating western and eastern populations of both species. Here we present information about one extralimital sighting of Beluga and three extralimital occurrences of Walrus in Bathurst Inlet, Northwest Territories, situated in the area of discontinuity. We discuss these observations and other extralimital records with respect to ice cover in the area.