THIS is the moment a photographer came within a whisker of a half-tonne walrus. American Steve Kazlowski, 42, snapped the inquisitive sea creature in Svalbard, Norway. The 11-foot beast was tracked by Steve across an entire Arctic summer day - including lazing on the ice and swimming gracefully underwater. Wildlife photographer Steve, from New York, USA, said: “The underwater walruses were amazing.   “I never really thought I would swim with a walrus.   “But after several attempts with some that seemed a little too aggressive, we finally found a group of 40 that were quite relaxed.   “It was completely different to experiencing them from land, to be underwater and with them in their element.   “It's amazing to watch something so large move so quickly and effortlessly in cold icy water.”   There are estimated to be up to a quarter of a million walruses living in the wilds of the Arctic, but because of their remote habitats scientists cannot be sure.   While they do face a struggle for survival due to climate change and competition against humans for fish there is not enough information about their exact numbers to know whether their population is currently increasing or decreasing.   “I am a conservation photographer,” said Steve.   “I hope my images cause people to think about the many things that inhabit the world.   “One of the goals of my work is to educate people about these animals and places, and inform them about the changes that are occurring in our world today.”   For more information visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.lefteyepro.com/" www.lefteyepro.com