Farewell Freya: The Walrus that paid the price of public ignorance with her life
- EUMCS Committee
- Nov 2, 2022
- 3 min read
“Dette er en skammens dag for Oslo, og et resultat av kollektiv idioti.” Translation:
"This is a day of shame for Oslo, and a result of collective idiocy."
Eivind Trædal, Group Leader of Oslo Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)
The Walrus is a vulnerable key-stone species facing the risk of extinction due to climate change and, specifically, the melting polar ice. Walruses usually move out of the water and rest on ice pans, but often have to seek out other “haul out” sites in the summer and autumn (The Norwegian Polar Institute). They usually feed in shallow coastal areas, where they eat a variety of clams (and other bivalve molluscs), birds, and other marine mammals (e.g. various seal species).
“One of the defining characteristics of a keystone species is that it fills a critical ecological role that no other species can. Without its keystone species, an entire ecosystem would radically change—or cease to exist altogether.”
NRDC, 2019
Walruses are long-lived (up to ca. 40 years), exceptionally social animals and usually found in large groups. The Walrus named “Freya” came to Oslo in mid-July where she went viral after spending months slowly making her way into the Oslofjord. It was estimated that she was about five years old, and that she would most likely reside in the Oslo Fjords for at least two years (VG TV, 2022).
“Freya the Walrus photographed earlier this summer”.
Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB
On Sunday 14th of August, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (fiskeridirektoratet) euthanized Freya. The Norwegian officials insisted that Freya imposed a threat to both itself and the public, given that this “heart-throb” continued to attract large crowds (The Guardian, 2022). For months, the Norwegian officials have repeatedly advised people to keep a distance from this wild mammal who appeared to be increasingly distressed by human attention. Earlier this summer, Freya was resting on a boat while an influx of nearby boaters—sometimes more than one at a time—who all went up very close to the walrus to photograph her. On July 20, the Fish Directorate asked the public to keep a distance from the walrus Freya, warning that “She is a wild animal of around 600kg, which is not necessarily as dorky and clumsy as one might get the impression”.
Since then, the Fish Directorate was unnerved by the walrus becoming an “attraction”, and has repeatedly advised and warned the public to keep their distance, emphasizing that the public should not swim with the wild animal (Fiskeridirektoratet, 2022). On August 11th, they tweeted “The audience defies the distance recommendations and gets up close with the walrus ‘Freya’”.
“The Public–adults and children—at Kadettangen defy the distance recommendations and get up close and personal with the walrus "Freya". The picture was taken on Wednesday 10 August. The image has been blackened out of consideration for the individuals in the image”.
Photo: The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.
Earlier this weekend, the officials warned that euthanizing Freya would be their final measure, a “last resort”. The Director of Fisheries, Frank Bakke-Jensen, has tried to justify euthanizing Freya as she supposedly imposed a risk to people’s life and health. This Sunday morning Freya the Walrus was euthanized in an animal welfare “friendly” way—with the Police and Norwegian Food Safety Authority (mattilsynet) made aware beforehand (ABC Nyheter, 2022).
“We have considered all possible measures very thoroughly. We came to the conclusion that we did not have the opportunity to safeguard animal welfare in a good enough way with other measures”
Frank Bakke-Jensen, The Director of Fisheries (NRK, 2022)
Before her euthanization, the topic sparked huge debates and it was deemed a real possibility to move Freya (Aftenposten, 2022; ABC Nyheter, 2022). However, the option was declared infeasible and overly complex (Fiskeridirektoratet, 2022). Now, many agree that the decision was rushed and remain suspicious that no better option was easily attainable (Dagbladet, 2022). Many individuals felt disappointed by how everything happened so suddenly, not leaving room for more public debates, protests and donations to help Freya. The euthanization has led to international coverage, public outcry and many tears. In fact, people’s devastation has started a fundraising campaign to set up a statue commemorating the walrus (TV 2 OSLO, 2022).
“It feels infinitely sad that they chose to euthanize such a beautiful animal just because we failed to behave properly around her”
Rune Aae, Biologist at the University of South-Eastern Norway (Nettavisen, 2022)
Freya the Walrus.
Photo: Per Ole Halvorsen
Author’s Opinion: Let’s hope that next time we are met with a situation where a wild (vulnerable) animal seeks extended refuge near any of our shores or coastlines, that we relocate it, redirect it and, by all means, do not kill it the first chance we get.
By: Marielle Wik
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