The Norwegian government euthanized Freya, the 1,300-pound walrus who became a beloved media celebrity by climbing on boats around Oslo, earlier this week. They said they acted because too many people insisted on getting too close Freya, including people swimming near her to take selfies and throw things at her.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries said that euthanizing Freya was their only option when people did not heed the directorate’s warnings to leave the wild animal alone. “We have great regard for animal welfare,” said Frank Vakke-Jensen, the head of the directorate, “but human life and safety must take precedence.”
Freya arrived in Oslo in June, and started climbing on small boats to rest and sun bathe, often capsizing them. She quickly became a sensation, and the local media named her after the Norse goddess of love.
Freya was first seen in northern Norway two years ago, climbing on boats there. She then moved on to the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden, before settling down in the Oslo area. In the past month, a Freya Facebook page had more than 1,000 members, many of whom offered their condolences after her death. But others noted that the weather was turning colder, and Freya would probably have left soon on her own.
The Norwegian officials said they considered the option of moving Freya somewhere else, but then thought that was too complicated. She was just too big. Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, said that euthanizing her was the right decision.
Others were more critical. “Norway very quickly chose for the very last option,” said Annemarie van den Berg, the director of a Dutch marine animal rescue group that worked with Freya when she was there last year. “Freya never stayed in the same place too long,” she told The New York Times. She said that Dutch authorities focused on keeping people away from her.
People in England had a similar problem with Wally the Walrus last summer. Wally also became a media superstar when he climbed on boats around southwest England for six weeks, often sinking them. But Wally’s summer vacation had a happy ending. The British authorities provided a special platform for Wally to rest on.
Read more at https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/14/world/freya-walrus-norway-scn-trnd/index.html and see the video below:
