Norway places down beloved walrus Freya, destroyer of boats

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August 14, 02:02 PM August 14, 02:02 PM

BERLIN — Authorities in Norway have euthanized a walrus that had drawn crowds of spectators in the Oslo Fjord after concluding that it posed a threat to people.

The 600-kilogram (1,320-pound) feminine walrus, acknowledged affectionately as Freya, became a well-liked attraction in Norway in recent weeks, in spite of warnings from officials that folks should really refrain from having shut and posing for photos with the enormous marine mammal. Freya preferred to clamber on small boats, leading to hurt to them.

Walruses are secured, and as recently as very last thirty day period, officers said they hoped Freya would go away of her own accord and that euthanasia would be a final resort.

Norway's Directorate of Fisheries reported Freya was place down early Sunday "based mostly on an total evaluation of the continued risk to human safety."

"By way of on-web site observations the previous 7 days, it was designed obvious that the general public has disregarded the latest recommendation to keep a crystal clear distance to the walrus," it claimed. "As a result, the Directorate has concluded, the chance for probable damage to men and women was substantial and animal welfare was not getting taken care of."

The head of the directorate, Frank Bakke-Jensen, stated other possibilities, including going the animal elsewhere, ended up deemed. But authorities concluded it wasn't a feasible selection.

"We have sympathies for the point that the selection can induce a response from the general public, but I am organization that this was the correct call," Bakke-Jensen stated. "We have fantastic regard for animal welfare, but human lifetime and basic safety have to consider priority."

Atlantic walruses commonly are living in the Arctic. It is abnormal but not unheard of for them to journey into the North and Baltic Seas. A further walrus, nicknamed Wally, was viewed previous 12 months on beach locations and even a lifeboat dock in Wales and in other places.