According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), on the 14th local time, Norwegian authorities euthanized the Internet red walrus Freya. Norwegian authorities say the walrus poses a threat to humans, while the public ignores suggestions to keep a distance from the walrus. The Move by the Norwegian authorities drew strong opposition.
Internet celebrity walrus Freya. Pictured from The Associated Press
In recent weeks, this 600 kg female walrus has climbed a boat to sunbathe and become a popular attraction in Norway and is loved by people. It is known as "Freya" (the god of love in Norse mythology).
Norway's Verdens Gang newspaper also set up a camera to shoot it 24 hours a day.
Freya has previously appeared in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and in some cases, climbs onto fishing boats, causing damage to the vessels.
The Royal Dutch Navy tweeted in 2021 that Freya hitchhiked a Dutch submarine. The tweet said, "The Dutch Navy's Walrus-class submarines are more walrus-like than we thought, and Freya chose to embrace it!" ”
The Royal Dutch Navy tweeted about Freya in 2021
After Freya arrived in the Oslo Fjord in Norway, @Norwegian Embassy in China posted a weibo post for her on July 28. Weibo said that Freya the walrus became an Internet celebrity in Norway. The Norwegian Fisheries Agency issued a statement saying that "the mammal is in stable condition and can stay where it is". But the Norwegian Fisheries Agency also stresses that people should keep their distance and be careful when swimming in the sea, because after all, "it is not necessarily as slow and clumsy as one might think".
Screenshot of the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing Weibo
The Norwegian Fisheries Service has also said that walruses usually do not pose a danger to humans as long as you maintain a safe distance. But if it is disturbed by humans and does not get the rest it needs, it may attack humans.
Last week, Norwegian authorities released a photograph showing a large group of people, including children, standing within easy reach of the walrus.
Norwegian authorities released a photo of people gathering near walruses
The New York Daily News reported on the 15th that the Norwegian authorities warned on the 11th local time that if people do not stop swimming, feeding, selfie, throwing things and other behaviors near Freya, then it is necessary to take severe measures. A spokesman for the Norwegian Fisheries Agency said, "The walrus is not getting enough rest and professionals think it's stressful." ”
On the 14th local time, the Norwegian authorities euthanized Freya.
The Norwegian Fisheries Agency said that "based on a comprehensive assessment of the continuing threat to human security", Freya was taken away earlier on the 14th.
Frank Bakke-Jensen, director of Norwegian Fisheries' Directorate, said in a statement that "through on-site observations over the past week, it is clear that the public is ignoring the recommendation to keep their distance from walruses." It is therefore concluded that it has a high probability of causing potential harm to humans. ”
Buck Jensen said other options had been considered, including removing Freya from the fjord, but authorities concluded that it was not a viable option.
He noted that the euthanasia surgery was performed "in a humane manner" and that veterinarians took the body away for further examination.
He added, "I firmly believe that this decision is the right one, that we take animal welfare very seriously, but that human life and safety must come first." ”
According to the New York Daily News, Rune Aae, a professor of biology at South-Eastern University in Norway who has been following Freya, mentioned that Freya's stay is very rare, and the last time a walrus appeared here was in 2013.
The professor said the Norwegian Fisheries Agency's approach was "overkill" and "too hasty". He expressed his sadness over Freya's death on Facebook, saying the rainy season was two days away, which was likely to drive Freya away from the Oslo fjords in Norway. In addition, he noted, schools are about to open, and fewer tourists will be concerned and harassed by this walrus who is not afraid of people.
The euthanasia of Freya by Norwegian authorities has sparked a backlash on social media. Netizens from all over the world frantically swiped the screen in the two topics of #FreyaTheWalrus# and #Norway# to express their dissatisfaction.
According to the Washington Post, walruses typically live in the snow-covered waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia and the U.S. state of Alaska. There are about 25,000 Atlantic walruses and 200,000 Pacific walruses in the wild.
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