It's the feeling of summer in the Oslo Fjord (Norway).

On the brink of putting the lives of the public and his own at risk, the walrus Freya was euthanized on Sunday.

A decision defended by the authorities as the only “viable”, but considered hasty by experts.

"The decision to euthanize the walrus was made based on an overall assessment of the continuing threat to human safety," Norwegian Fisheries Directorate official Frank Bakke-Jensen said in a statement.

Walruses generally live in the more northern latitudes of the Arctic, but Freya, whose name refers to a goddess associated with love and beauty in Norse mythology, had been bathing in the waters of the Norwegian capital since July 17 .

The young female of some 600 kg had been filmed chasing birds or climbing on boats, swaying under her weight, to doze there (a walrus can sleep up to twenty hours a day), doing significant damage in the process.

Big story in Norway this summer is a walrus we've named Freya has made it to our shores and is touring the country, laying around and sinking boats pic.twitter.com/rQolsxd88b

— Wild Geerters (@steinkobbe) July 19, 2022

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Only possible solution

“We have carefully considered all possible solutions.

We concluded that we could not guarantee the welfare of the animal by any means available,” said Frank Bakke-Jensen.

Authorities had warned on Thursday that Freya could be euthanized if the public did not stay away from the mammal.

“Let Freya live”, had then launched the environmentalist party The Greens.

“Experts have previously recommended, among other things, giving her sedatives, then moving her out of populated areas or bringing her back to Svalbard,” he recommended on Instagram, advising to “admire her from afar, and leave alone”.

A hasty and shocking decision

For experts, the decision to euthanize does not take animal welfare into account.

“It's very shocking.

We are in a situation that offers an opportunity to show consideration for wild animals and to show people how to show consideration for wild animals, "said a spokesperson for the association to TV2 television. NOAH Animal Welfare, Siri Martinsen.

It is also a hasty measure.

“We should have tried fines.

We would then probably have seen these masses of people disappear quickly, ”she said.

Absolute shame for Norway, which in addition to being the country that kills the most whales in the world, does not hesitate to kill a protected animal instead of making the curious respect distances.

We don't deserve this planet.https://t.co/fTDdzTjbSv

— Sea Shepherd France (@SeaShepherdFran) August 14, 2022

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Despite the instructions, curious people bathed near the animal or approached it excessively, sometimes with children, to photograph it.

"It's infinitely sad that they chose to euthanize such a beautiful animal simply because we didn't behave well with it," said biologist Rune Aae, interviewed by the agency. local NTB.

The over-stressed animal

The Fisheries Directorate had argued that the well-being of Freya, who was around five years old, had declined sharply, with experts considering her now stressed.

A protected species, the walrus feeds mainly on invertebrates such as molluscs, shrimps, crabs and small fish.

Although he does not normally attack human beings, he may, according to the authorities, feel threatened by unwelcome people and attack them.

Considered, the displacement of Freya, "was not a viable option" because of its complexity, explained the director of fisheries.

In France, a rescue operation had been set up this week to transport a beluga out of the Seine, where it had gotten lost, but the cetacean had not supported it and had to be euthanized.

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