– The decision to euthanize was taken after an overall assessment in which we concluded that people’s lives and health could be in jeopardy, said fisheries director Frank Bakke-Jensen in press release.

Early Sunday morning, Freya’s walrus was euthanized, which was carried out by the Directorate of Fisheries personnel responsible for animal welfare.

The Norwegian Police and Food Safety Authority have been notified in advance. The walrus has now been handed over for further treatment by a veterinarian.

The Directorate of Fisheries has stated several times that relocation is considered an alternative to keep the walruses away from crowds. It is likely that the relocation operation will be very complicated and associated with high risks, according to Bakke-Jensen. Therefore, the move option is selected.

– We have considered all possible actions very carefully. “We’ve come to the conclusion that we don’t have the opportunity to look after animal welfare in a good enough way with other measures,” he said.

A more dangerous situation

Recently, some dangerous situations between Freya and humans have been reported. The Directorate has made its own observations and concluded that the risk of a more dangerous situation occurring is very high.

– Despite repeated calls, the public did not follow recommendations to keep their distance from walruses, and dangerous situations arose on several occasions, the directorate wrote.

While many advocate that extermination is the best alternative, others call for action to mean that the walruses are allowed to live.

The Directorate of Fisheries added that they understand that the decision to put Freya to sleep could provoke a backlash from the community.

– But I’m sure that this is the right decision. We are concerned about animal welfare, but human life and health must come first, said Bakke-Jensen.

Minister must answer

The MDGs will follow up on this at Storting and have asked the following question to the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Bjørnar Skjæran (Ap): “Could the Minister explain in detail what assessment the Directorate of Fisheries made when killing Freya, why, for example, increased security, stunning and the transfer of animals or other alternatives undertaken, and whether the government believes that the authorities can learn from this incident with respect to handling future events where wild animals against the background of, inter alia, loss of nature and climate change move to areas more populated than previously ?”

– It’s sad that Freya was killed. It’s an animal that involves a lot of people, which reminds us how close people in Norway are to animals and nature. Freya will now become a symbol of Norway’s 289 endangered species, a species we will lose forever, wrote MDG co-leader Ingrid Liland in comments to NTB.

He believes the fisheries minister should be able to find a better alternative to culling.

– I will not go into the judgment of professionals or the Directorate of Fisheries. But I hope they find a better solution that keeps both the walrus and humans safe at the same time, Liland said.

– Infinitely sad

The biologist Rune Aae at the University of Southeast Norway had been following Freya closely for a long time, long before she arrived in the Oslofjord. He was very disappointed that it ended like that.

– Freya has been an enrichment for all of us who have a taste for wild animals, so this is very sad, he told NTB.

– It feels so sad that they choose to put such a beautiful animal to sleep just because we fail to behave properly around it, says Aae.

Noah’s animal protection organization was also very critical of his handling. Instead, they wanted a system where people were fined for getting too close to Freya.

– The situation now is that no one who interferes with or gets too close to Freya suffers any consequences – but Freya, on the other hand, has made her life better, leader Noah Siri Martinsen said in a press release.

Gaining international attention

Freya appeared in Oslo in mid-July after moving further and further into the Oslo Fjord in the previous months. It is estimated that he is about five years old and weighs about 600 kilograms.

When he settled in the port of ship at Frognerkilen, he quickly attracted a large audience, eager to catch a glimpse of a rare guest from the North Pole. However, the intense attention means that the walrus doesn’t get enough rest, and that’s why she’s stressed out, according to experts.

He also found his way into newspapers around the world, including at Great Britain , India , United States of America and Brazil.

– Freya the walrus sinks ships and plows hearts in Norway, the French news agency AFP reports.