"Looked normal at first then we started to butcher it found some unusual stuff on the insides."
Observation by Lewis Amik III:
Sick walrus. Looked normal at first then we started to butcher it found some unusual stuff on the insides. The brown area inside the rib is not something we normally see. The lungs are usually a dark red and don't have white on them. The liver had a sandpaper texture, while the other part was still dark and smooth.
Dr. Kathy Burek Huntington, writes:
Hard to tell just from photos, but these abnormalities look like there was probably an old infection in this animal. That is likely an infection within the bone; the white spiderweb like pattern in the lung looks like fibrosis or scarring from pneumonia; a sand paper like texture to the liver often indicates either an old infection in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity or possibly parasite migration tracts. To get a better answer on these kinds of questions, photos are great, but samples of the abnormalities sent fresh chilled overnight (best) or frozen (still OK) can allow us to take a better look and do some testing.
Comments from LEO Editors:
Walrus are a significant and important subsistence resource for many Alaska Native communities, ranging from Bristol Bay to the North Slope. In addition to being a food source, the hide, intestines, and tusks have historically been used to make tool, shelter, and clothing. A practice shared among many Alaska Native cultures, the whole animal could be used in some way, and little to nothing is wasted. Food preparation includes boiling, raw, frozen, and fermented. Source: Traditional Animal Foods Elizabeth Lindley
Kwigillingok, Alaska