China News Service, August 15. Recently, a female walrus weighing 600 kilograms appeared in a fjord in Norway.
It has attracted a large number of people because it is not afraid of people and likes to sunbathe on the boat on the shore. Some people even swim with it, throw objects at it or get close to taking pictures.
However, the Norwegian government has decided to euthanize the walrus. What is the reason?
Data map: The Internet celebrity walrus "Freya" appeared in Norway.
Unlike most other walruses, the female is hardly afraid of humans, according to CNN and AFP.
It attracted a lot of attention on social media and was named after the Norse goddess of love and beauty "Freya".
Popular videos on the web showed it often crawling onto the boat to bask in the sun.
The Norwegian Fisheries Agency said it observed tourists swimming with it, throwing objects at it or approaching it for photos.
Over the past week, the agency's repeated calls to stay away from the 600kg walrus have been ignored and the walrus has been under undue stress.
The bureau had considered a number of solutions, including moving it out of the fjord, but after analysis it was deemed unworkable.
On the morning of the 14th local time, the Norwegian government euthanized the walrus.
Norwegian officials said animal welfare was taken very seriously, but "human life and safety must come first."