The article reports USF&W puts the walrus population at 280,000 but they also reported it could be as high as 470,000 or as low as 90,000. The large difference in their numbers doesn't exactly inspire confidence. The article also reported that people from the village discovered old records that 400,000 walrus were killed in the distant past by whalers. There was an undoubtably a far larger population of walrus over 100 years ago then there is now. But, we still have people hunting this stressed walrus population and reducing their numbers by 250 animals per year {based on the reported kills} and people are wondering why they are having a harder and harder time finding walruses? The reduced ice is enough to drive this animal towards extinction. It's unfortunate that people continue to hunt them as it isn't helping them out at all.