A mother walrus attacked and sunk a Russian Navy boat in the Arctic Ocean last week.
The animal was protecting its calves when it attacked the expedition boat carrying a group of researchers from the Russian Geographical Society, the Russian Military’s Northern Fleet said in a news release.
“During the landing at Cape Geller, a group of researchers had to flee from a female walrus, which, protecting its cubs, attacked an expedition boat,” the release said.
The researchers were heading to Franz Josef Land archipelago on a small rubber landing craft when the walrus attacked and sunk the boat. The Russian Geographical Society said everyone aboard the boat was able to safely reach shore.
According to CBS News, the Russian military appeared to be flying a drone above a group of walruses for scientific research, which could have frightened the mother walrus.
Walruses near the Arctic Circle can weigh up to 1.5 tons and become aggressive during mating season, according to National Geographic.
