Norwegian authorities ordered the euthanization of the nation's beloved 1,300-pound walrus named Freya after the animal has continued to sink boats in the Oslo Fjord and her threat to human safety.
The decision on early Sunday was made based on "an overall assessment of the continued threat," said the director-general at the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, Frank Bakke-Jensen, in a news release.
Euthanization of a Walrus
The massive creature quickly became a social media star this summer, said Rune Aae, who teaches biology at the University of South-Eastern Norway and manages a Google map of Freya sightings.
The young female walrus had spent quite some time at the Oslo Fjord, which is an inlet on the country's southeastern coast. She appeared to have been unafraid of humans, unlike other walruses. Several popular videos showed the creature clambering onto small boats docked in the area just to sunbathe.
The directorate warned the public in the past week to stay away from the 1,300-pound, warning that they had observed visitors swimming with Freya, throwing objects at her, and getting dangerously close to taking photographs, as per CNN.
The spokesperson for the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, Nadia Jdaini, said that the public has continued to disregard the current recommendation to keep a clear distance from the walrus. The directorate previously said that it was considering multiple solutions to address the situation with the animal.
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These included relocating Freya out of the Oslo Fjord but this idea had such extensive complexity that forced them to conclude that it was not a viable option. Bakke-Jensen continued that they expressed their sympathies for the fact that the decision can cause reactions with the public.
Widespread Backlash
According to the Daily Beast, the animal also chased kayaks and paddleboarders in the area that got too close to her. The Norwegian agency added that the other options they considered to displace the walrus were not believed to be effective. However, a biologist called the decision "too hasty," adding that moving the animal should have been attempted first.
The large creature was previously spotted in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, England, and Scotland. In some instances, the massive animal caused damage to small boats whenever she climbed onto them. Residents in the Netherlands first spotted her relaxing on top of a submarine.
Walruses are protected and as recently as last month officials said that they were hoping Freya would leave of her own accord and that euthanasia would be the last resort. The decision also sparked widespread backlash on social media with wildlife conservationists shaming Norwegian authorities for killing Freya without trying to move her first.
One user posted on Twitter claiming that the directorate committed a "murder" when they decided to euthanize the creature. Atlantic walruses are typically known to live in the Arctic but it is not uncommon for them to travel into the North and Baltic Seas.
Another walrus, who was nicknamed Wally, was seen last year on beaches and even on a lifeboat dock in Wales and other regions similar to how Freya was spotted near residential areas, ABC reported.
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