In mid-July, a 600kg walrus, affectionately nicknamed Freya, appeared near Norway's capital city in the Oslo Fjord.
Indeed, the outrage - which fanned out far beyond Norway's borders - has been such that even the country's prime minister has been forced to comment, saying putting Freya down was "the right decision''.Freya's journey to Oslo most likely started in the Arctic, but over the last year she appeared to have undertaken a European tour, with sightings in UK, Dutch, Danish and Swedish waters.
But then, says Mads Frost Bertelsen, the Zoological Director at Copenhagen Zoo, that is not surprising. Walruses tend to live in remote areas, which means they don't often come into contact with humans. This means statistics on incidents are low - but, he points out, they are capable of inflicting "serious damage".The blame, however, does not sit with Freya, according to Dr Jeff W Higdon, a consulting Arctic marine mammal biologist from Canada with experience of walruses.
"That the government chose to take Freya's life rather than try to manage this potential risk through implementing more effective measures to manage the behaviour of people was surprising and disappointing," Prof Wickson says.Norway's Fisheries Directorate did discuss a possible solution to the issue other than euthanasia with experts before acting, including members of the Institute of Marine Research .
But that wasn't the only option put on the table - the IMR also considered putting a net under a boat with the aim of catching Freya.
? ?
No she didn’t!!
I don’t know I kept texting her that question but got no answer!
No, she didn’t
A bronze statue? It would be better to put it towards studying whether there was another solution. Otherwise next time will they do the same and end up with bronze statues all over the waterfront.
No she wasn't there's to kill bless her
I’ve abbreviated the article for you, bbcnews.
It came down to one thing, and one thing only... 🤑🤑🤑... the cost of relocating FreyaTheWalrus. A simple fundraiser would have solved the problem, wouldn't it?!? 🙄 Someone made the wrong decision. Taking the live of a healthy animal is wrong and very upsetting. visitnorway
Norway, a world's richest country with its trillion $ Oil Fund, should be in the front protecting all Nature. Instead they drill up oil, kills whales, wolves, walrus & bears while having a general wildlife awareness as belonging to the Victorian 1800s. It's 2022. Time to change.
Norway officials claimed that it would be too expensive (for the world's richest country with its trillion $ Oil Fund) to relocate the walrus Freya. So they killed her. They could also just have volunteers to follow and protect her, as was done in other countries Freya visited.
No, sadly people who didn’t respect her space, nor listened to warnings and Norwegian govt have blood of an innocent creature on their hands, because it was more convenient… awful story of mankind’s entitlement
No
What? This is awful. She was a beautiful, inquisitive animal, not a pest! Looks like people were amazed by her. She was probably just hanging around and she probably would have swimmed away somewhere else. What a sad story Norway authorities should be ashamed!
Anything about Thomas o'halloran today?
NO
In short - no!
Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. What has happened here is cold blooded murder or summary execution. Freya was perfectly healthy and enjoying her life.
'Do not mind me I am just posting'
Our collective members of the molluscs, worms, snails, soft shell crabs, shrimp and sea cucumbers society can sleep easier after this.
No
No.
nothing about it was right
No. It didn’t.
No
Probably not, but I'm not buying that anyone has lost sleep over this.
In Califórnia, authority built fluctuating platforms for walrus rest. Norway killed the animal. Barbarian and mediocre decision!
no it bloody well was not.
No.
No
… did? is such a tricky term … and sigh is not a big enough word …
We all die one day.
No
No. No she didn't. Norwegians just quite like shooting wild animals.
Absolutely NOT! Humans are despicable!
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