Published: Just now
The Norwegian celebrity walrus Freya was euthanized on Sunday morning.
“People’s lives and health could be in danger,” says fisheries director Frank Bakke-Jensen in a statement.
Freya the walrus won the hearts of many Norwegians during the summer when she swam around the Oslofjord. However, it led to several people becoming too close.
The Directorate of Fisheries in Norway decided that the walrus needed to be euthanized so that no one would get hurt. There was also concern for the health of the walrus.
“The decision was made after a comprehensive evaluation where we concluded that people’s lives and health could be in danger,” says Frank Bakke-Jensen in a press release.
He states that the killing was carried out by trained personnel and describes the course of events as undramatic.
Freya was seen for the first time in the fjord on April 12 this year and later became famous after lying and relaxing in several pleasure boats. Norwegian authorities have previously urged people to stay away from the walrus so that it does not become stressed.
Walruses are normally found in the Arctic. Freya is believed to come from Svalbard, north of Northern Norway, or possibly Greenland. The celebrity walrus has previously been seen in the Netherlands, Denmark and in the Swedish Smögen.