Officials in Norway killed Freya the Walrus due to concerns about public safety

• Norwegian officials euthanize Freya the walrus after they determined she posed a risk to humans.
• The walrus has been active in Oslo fjord on Norway’s southeast coast in recent weeks.
• Officials euthanized the animal early Sunday after observing its interactions with the public.

The 1,300-pound walrus, Freya, got put to death by Norwegian officials after they decided she is a risk to people. The walrus is active in the Oslo fjord on Norway’s southeast coast recently; and the Directorate of Fisheries in Norway stated on Monday that it had been killed. After studying the walrus’ interactions with the public; and coming to the conclusion that “the public has rejected the present advise to keep a clear distance from the walrus;” officials decided to put the animal down early on Sunday.

The wellbeing of the animal was affected, according to veterinarian experts; and the walrus appeared stressed by the intense attention, according to a statement from the Directorate of Fisheries. Therefore, the Directorate came to the conclusion that there was a substantial potential for human injury and that animal welfare; was not being upheld.

Frank Bakke-Jensen, Norway’s Director General of Fisheries, stated in a statement that the decision to put the walrus to death was based on an evaluation of the overall hazard to human safety.

The walrus was killed in accordance with “existing routines and laws for euthanasia for marine mammals,” according to the statement; and the Directorate of Fisheries personnel alerted the police and the nation’s animal welfare authorities of their plans before doing so.

“We thoroughly studied each and every alternative. We came to the conclusion that we could not; by any circumstances, guarantee the welfare of the animals “said Bakke-Jensen in the press statement.

The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Directorate of Fisheries “deliberated intensively”; about possibly transferring Freya, the Directorate of Fisheries stated in a statement on Sunday.

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According to Bakke-Jensen, “the vast intricacy of such an operation made us determine that this was not a viable alternative.” “A probable move raised a number of animal welfare issues.”

Bakke-Jensen continued, “We sympathise with the decision’s potential to elicit negative responses from the public, but I am adamant that this was the right choice. Although we care deeply about animal welfare, human life and safety must come first.

Freya could be put down, the Directorate of Fisheries warned on Thursday, if observers ignore requests to keep away from the creature and continue acting in a “negligent manner.” In a statement at the time, the Directorate stated that experts in animal welfare had already concluded that the animal had been stressed as a result of its interactions with people.

“The walrus’s popularity increases the urgency of taking additional action. Our greatest concern is that someone would be wounded “Nadia Jdaini, the senior communications advisor for the directorate, stated in a statement on Thursday.

We are talking about partially big gatherings of various ages, where everyone plainly deviates from the present advice to keep their distance, the speaker continued.

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