An estimated 35,000 walruses have been spotted on a small strip of beach in northwest Alaska, stranded there by a massive loss of sea ice.

Climate change has caused rapid sea ice melting and this loss of ses ice isn't a good thing for the walruses. Even if they're sea mammals, walruses can't swim long distances at a continuous rate. Sea ice, therefore, has long provided tired walruses a temporary resting ground.

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The beach inundated by this colossal group of walruses, called a lek, is located around five miles north of Point Lay. Observers spotted the walruses on the beach on September 13.

They also saw waves of these huge animals stampede leaving as many as 50 carcasses on the shoreline. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documented the situation as their marine aerial probes captured images of the lek fighting for survival.

Photos also showed the walruses using their tusks to haul themselves out of the water and onto the shoreline.

Researchers said that because the amount of sea ice in shallow regions has melted into the oceans, these walruses can no longer thrive and are forced to find other places to migrate as huge populations huddle together.

This lek can be deadly to the walruses, which are easily scared and can easily stampede. In 2009, a lek stampede left 130 carcasses, mostly young or baby walruses, in Alaska's Icy Cape.

This colossal number of walruses gathering at a certain place is a clear result of climate change, said researchers. They said it's urgent for the rest of the world to take immediate action to tackle the root causes of this global problem.

Tags35, 000 Walruses Stranded on Beach in North Alaska; Blame It On Climate Change, walrus, walruses north alaska climate change, Alaska