"Nivetanim on the Ice" | Dafna Ben Nun

National Geographic Israel's award-winning in-house photographer and veteran Delphis volunteer, Dafna Ben Nun , goes on annual photo expeditions to various locations around the world to document nature in all its glory, focusing on documenting animals in their natural habitat.

 On one of her trips, she visited northern Norway, in 2023, where she documented the Nivtans.
 The walrus is an impressive marine mammal that lives in the Arctic regions, and is also common along the coast of northern Norway and in the Svalbard archipelago. It is a large animal, with long tusks that it uses for protection, climbing icebergs, and even as a "status symbol" to establish its social status within the pack.

 Nividae spend most of their time resting on glaciers or sandy beaches, and descend to hunt in the water - where they feed mainly on mollusks such as clams. Despite their impressive size, nividae are highly social creatures, living in large groups and often seen huddling together in dense groups.

 Like many animals, nivatans are particularly sensitive to environmental changes - melting ice and human disturbance directly affect their ability to survive.
 Protecting the populations of otters and their natural environment is a central part of the fight to preserve the Arctic ecosystem, which is particularly delicate and unique.

 This work is being sold as part of the " Artists for Marine Mammals " project as a donation to the continued activities of the Delphis Association to protect marine mammals in Israel and educate the younger generation to love the sea.