Norway euthanises Freya, the boat-wrecking walrus

The young female walrus visited several European ports earlier this year before settling on Oslo, Norway, as her adopted home in July. 

She was filmed numerous times clambering onto boats, some of which were swamped as her bulk dipped transoms below the waterline.

However, despite warnings, tourists started taking photos with the walrus as she rested, sometimes with small children present.

Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries said Freya was put down “based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety” and the animal’s deteriorating health, largely caused by the stress of the constant human interactions.

“Through on-site observations the past week, it was made clear that the public has disregarded the current recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus,” the directorate was quoted as saying. 

“Therefore, the directorate has concluded, the possibility for potential harm to people was high and animal welfare was not being maintained.”

Images started appearing more regularly on social media earlier this month showing people posing with the sleeping walrus, a protected species in Norway.

Similar to walruses, seals and sea lions are protected species in Australian waters.

Many seal and sea lion populations around Australia declined significantly in the 18th and 19th centuries because of indiscriminate harvesting and, although most populations have recovered, some remain at low levels. 

Some of the best places in Australia to see seals include Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, Montague Island on the New South Wales south coast, Seal Rocks in Victoria, various places in Tasmania and on accessible islands around Perth and Albany in Western Australia.

If anyone encounters a seal or sea lion on land, they need to keep at least 30 metres away.