Authorities have repeatedly warned spectators, tourists and residents to keep their distance. The fishing direction was particularly bothered by the fact that people jumped into the water with Freya and got too close to the animal with children on the shore to take pictures.
“We weighed all possible options,” Fisheries Director Frank Bakke-Jensen said in a statement. The transfer of the animal had already been discussed. However, the risks for such an action were too great.
Human safety must come first
You can understand if the public is dismayed, said Bakke-Jensen. But while animal welfare is a valuable asset, human life and safety must come first.
In July, the authorities wanted to avoid euthanasia at all costs. “Walruses are wild animals, protected and listed on the red list. This means killing is the last option,” a statement said at the time.