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Freya in action: euthanized despite excellent health
Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / dpa
Freya was something of a local giant: Over the summer, the busy walrus developed into a tourist attraction just outside Oslo.
The animal, which weighs almost 600 kilos, appeared again and again in Frognerkilen Bay in the Oslo fjord and lay down in front of the anchored boats.
Despite warnings from the authorities, onlookers jumped into the water at Freya or took photos from the shore.
Recently, the fisheries management assessed the safety risk as too great - and decided to put the walrus to sleep.
There were immediate protests across the country against the killing of the animal.
According to their own statements, the fisheries director and his wife even received death threats.
"We weighed all possible options," said the director of fisheries, Frank Bakke-Jensen, in a statement.
They even discussed the transfer of the animal.
However, the risks for such an action were too great.
The result: Freya was put to sleep.
Bakke-Jensen said he could understand if the public was upset.
But although animal welfare is a valuable asset, human life and safety must come first.
Freya died instantly
An autopsy of the cadaver has now revealed that Freya was completely healthy when she died.
This was announced by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
"There is no doubt that the walrus died instantly when euthanized," said pathologist Malin Rokseth Reit, according to the statement.
"It was a healthy animal, in good condition."
However, the Norwegians will not forget the walrus that quickly: A Freya fan started a fundraising campaign to collect money for a statue of the animal.
By Wednesday, 267,000 Norwegian kroner had been raised for this, around 27,000 euros.
ala/dpa