A popular walrus that has garnered the widespread attention of tourists and residents alike in Norway may be at risk of being euthanized due to large crowds flocking to see the marine mammal.
Freya, a 1,400-pound walrus, has become a crowd favorite by swimming from harbor to harbor to feed and rest on small boats located along the coast — a rare sighting because the species doesn’t typically venture south of the Arctic Circle. However, Freya’s popularity has prompted concerns about her well-being and the safety of the public as groups invade her habitat.
SUN-LOVING FREYA THE WALRUS SINKING BOATS IN NORWAY
“The public’s negligent behavior and failure to follow the recommendations from the authorities can endanger life and health,” said Nadia Jdaini, senior communications adviser at the Directorate of Fisheries. “We are talking about partly large crowds of all ages where all people clearly deviate from the current recommendations to keep their distance.”
The directorate has reported several incidents in which onlookers have attempted dangerous encounters, such as throwing objects at the walrus, attempting to swim in the water, and venturing to the water’s edge to take photos. The incidents have weakened the walrus’s well-being, causing officials to confirm that “euthanasia can be a real alternative,” Jdaini said.
“The fact that the walrus has become an attraction escalates the need for further measures. Our biggest fear is that people could get hurt,” Jdaini said. “We would, again, strongly recommend that the public keep their distance where the walrus has been observed and not bathe with it. It is for one’s own safety and with animal welfare in mind.”
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The possibility of euthanizing Freya reverses previous statements from the directorate that euthanasia was “out of the question” for the protected species. However, it may become one of the safest options after officials determined earlier this week that relocating Freya to a private space may be too risky.
“Moving the walrus would be a difficult process — also because tranquilizing includes a risk of it drowning,” Erlend Astad Lorentzen, communications adviser at Norway’s Institute of Marine Research, told NBC News.
