Freya the Walrus euthanized

[Catherine]

A walrus strayed into a Norwegian Fjord and stayed.  She became a bit of a celebrity. People flocked to see her sunbathing on boats and swimming around the Oslo harbor.
Authorities were less happy about her presence. They asked people to stay away. When that didn't happen, they decided  to kill her. The claim was that she was dangerous to people so she had to go. 
They did not look into other alternatives like moving her. They simply moved in and ended her life.


https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jul...way-killed



https://www.npr.org/2022/08/14/111744219...freya-oslo

I don't care how they package the decision as a matter of public safety. What they did was kill an animal who was doing no real harm, just living her life in peace. 
She could have been moved. A few security guards could have kept people at a distance.  She probably would  have left soon anyhow. It was more convenient for them to kill her. Nothing anyone can say will make this the right choice.  Other places have had walrus visitors and it has worked out.

Wally the walrus was accepted.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58279480

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/o...-of-europe

It is possible these marine mammals are visiting different place because of food shortages at home.
There is no doubt that climate change is effecting many places in many ways. When animals do unexpected things we need to help them, not kill them for our convenience.

[Catherine]

Now that she is gone, a private fundraising campaign is underway to pay for a statue of Freya. 
It has raised over $16,000 so far.
Her death signals that Norway is unwilling to make space for wildlife. A statue of Freya will remind Norway and the rest of us that we need to make space for nature.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/08/16/n...ed-walrus/

I hope they are able to do it. Freya should not have died for nothing. At least she can be a symbol of the place of nature in our lives. Maybe her memory will protect the next animal that wanders into space that humans have claimed as their own.