Freya, the well-known walrus that came by in Den Helder, passed away this morning in Norway. The Norwegian authorities made this decision because curious people got too close, creating dangerous situations. In addition, Freya suffered from stress because of all the attention.
The Norwegian newspaper reports that Verdens Gang. Freya has been swimming around since mid-June in Norwegian waters and she lay down on boats, which sometimes sank them too. The predator became known in Noord-Holland when she lay in Den Helder in the autumn of 2021 laze on a submarine.
Previously, Norwegian authorities have warned people not to get too close to the walrus. They would run the risk of being attacked. According to the Norwegians, this has not been listened to enough. Because of all the attention, the animal was suffering from stress and she would not sleep enough, which caused her health to deteriorate.
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Fisheries director of the Norwegian institution Fiskeridirektoratet Frank Bakke-Jensen reports to the newspaper that people lifted their children to take selfies with Freya. Children also threw sticks and stones at the walrus.
The director says it was too difficult and too expensive to sedate and move Freya, so the decision was made to have her put to sleep. Bakke-Jensen does not let us know exactly how she came to her end, but he emphasizes that it was done in a ‘friendly way’. Freya has been taken to vets who will examine her.