Dylan Bettencourt
Authorities in Norway have taken the decision to put down a walrus that had grown to become quite the tourist attraction in the European nation.
Freya, the 600kg marine animal, migrated south from the Arctic, attracting hundreds of visitors each day. However local authorities feared Freya would attract tourists that refused to follow instructions that told them to stay away from her.
Animal rights activists were outraged that authorities opted to put the animal down over issuing fines to those who did not follow the rules.
Walruses tend to live in ice-covered waters but Freya had been spotted roaming around the coasts of Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Freya, who was believed to be five years old, was often seen laying on leisure boats, sometimes even sinking them. She could also be seen chasing ducks and swans across the water.
Officials became concerned when Freya started attracting large crowds, including many children. Some people even took to the water to swim alongside Freya.
The local authorities believed the crowds often put themselves in danger by provoking Freya and making her stressed. Walrus attacks are rare but not unheard of.
The Norwegian fisheries ministry warned that if people did not stay away from Freya, the animal would have to be put down – but the warning was ignored by the public.
“The decision to euthanise the walrus was made based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety. The public has disregarded the recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus,” said Norwegian Director General of Fisheries Frank Bakke-Jensen, as per The Times.
“Therefore, the directorate has concluded that the possibility for potential harm to people was high and [the] animal’s welfare was not being maintained.”
He also explained that a relocation process would have been too stressful for the animal, and that would likely have resulted in her death anyway.
Image source: @Bloomberg
