Norway euthanizes Freya, walrus who rose to fame for sinking boats
Norwegian authorities euthanized Freya, a 1,300-pound walrus who rose to fame this summer for sinking boats, they announced Sunday, citing public safety
Norwegian authorities euthanized Freya, a 1,300-pound walrus who rose to fame this summer for sinking boats, they announced Sunday, citing public safety concerns caused by the crowds she attracted.
"The decision to euthanize the walrus was made based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety," Fisheries Director Frank Bakke-Jensen said in a statement.
"Highly skilled and trained personnel executed the order in conduct with current routines and regulations for euthanasia for marine mammals," he said.
The walrus — whose name refers to the Norse goddess of fertility and love — rose to fame over the last few months as she traveled the country's coastline, damaging boats and ships after having climbed aboard to rest for days or weeks at a time. She had been spotted as early as 2019, said Rune Aae, a doctoral student in science didactics at the University of South-Eastern Norway who mapped Freya's journey through photos scientists and amateur photographers snapped and shared on social media and in online databases.
Sunbathing walrus sinks boats in NorwayJune 22, 202200:59Aae criticized officials' decision to put Freya to death in a Facebook post Sunday, calling the move "too hasty" and "completely unnecessary." He said that there was enough tracking of Freya to ensure the public could avoid her and that there would be fewer onlookers when the summer holidays end soon.
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