Authorities Warn Freya the Walrus May Need to Be Put Down as Crowds Ignore Warnings to Stay Away

Stephanie Wenger
·2 min read
A young female walrus nicknamed Freya rests on a boat in Frognerkilen, Oslo Fjord, Norway
A young female walrus nicknamed Freya rests on a boat in Frognerkilen, Oslo Fjord, Norway

TOR ERIK SCHRDER/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

A 1,300-lb. walrus who often attracts crowds as she searches for a sunbathing spot in Oslo, Norway, is now at risk of being euthanized due to public safety concerns, according to authorities.

On Thursday, Norway's Directorate of Fisheries warned the walrus named Freya could be put down if onlookers do not heed warnings to stay away from the mammal and continue displaying "negligent behavior."

"The fact that the walrus has become an attraction escalates the need for further measures. Our biggest fear is that people could get hurt," said Nadia Jdaini, the directorate's senior communications advisor, in the statement.

A young female walrus nicknamed Freya rests on a boat in Frognerkilen, Oslo Fjord, Norway
A young female walrus nicknamed Freya rests on a boat in Frognerkilen, Oslo Fjord, Norway

TOR ERIK SCHRDER/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: Freya the Walrus Is Sinking Boats and Winning Hearts in Search for Ideal Sunbathing Spot

She added, "We are talking about partly large crowds of all ages, where all people clearly deviate from the current recommendations to keep their distance."

"Animal welfare is clearly weakened," Jdaini continued. "The walrus does not get enough rest and the professionals we are in dialogue with consider her to be stressed."

A female walrus named Freya lies at the waterfront at Frognerstranda in Oslo
A female walrus named Freya lies at the waterfront at Frognerstranda in Oslo

TOR ERIK SCHRDER/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: Arctic Walrus Turns Up in Ireland, Likely Floated There Accidentally While Napping on an Iceberg

The directorate is using a patrol vessel to observe the situation but is also evaluating further options with police and a veterinarian.

"We are now probing further measures, where euthanasia can be a real alternative," Jdaini said.

In the meantime, the directorate is continuing to request that people stay away from the walrus.

RELATED: Walrus Sinks Russian Navy Boat in the Arctic Ocean After Attacking Vessel

"The distance recommendations and clarifications about not swimming with the walrus are repeated," Jdaini shared. "We would again — strongly — recommend that the public keep their distance where the walrus has been observed and not bathe with it."

She continued, "It is for one's own safety and with animal welfare in mind."

In July, Freya captivated onlookers while also creating chaos in northern Europe, overtaking and sometimes sinking vessels — all in search of a perfect sunbathing spot.

RELATED VIDEO: Freya the Walrus Is Sinking Boats-and Winning Hearts in Search-for Ideal Sunbathing Spot

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

The walrus has been tracked along Norway's coast for months, where the animal has left a string of damaged boats in her wake, NBC News reported.

The massive mammal searches for empty boats "to sleep and digest her food because they remind her of Arctic ice floes," Kathrine Ryeng, a veterinary medicine scientist at Norway's Institute of Marine Research, told NBC News.

Freya's antics are drawing attention on social media, earning her fans and foes alike.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Concerns about day care loom large in wake of YMCA closure announcement

    When YMCA officials announced on Tuesday that local operations will cease as of May 15, they made sure to mention that day care is one of the services they are hoping to keep alive. The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA offers 541 licensed day care spots across the city, with 140 of those spots being situated at the organization's recreation centre on 235 McNabb St. But now that this building is up for sale, Danica Boissoneau doesn't know what that means for her 18-month-old daughter, who just got enrolled

  • Jasper and the rest of Canada had warmest winter on record

    If you thought that we just had a pretty mild winter, then you were right. This past winter was the warmest in Canada since record keeping began, said Alysa Pederson, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “We talk about climate change a lot, but a big part of this year and this winter, was [that] we were also in a very strong El Niño,” Pederson said. “That's what we would expect of El Niño. And then, of course, this year was a relatively strong one. We expected it to be warme

  • Paris Hilton: 'Motherhood means more to me than fame and fortune ever could!'

    Paris Hilton had always dreamed of having a little girl called London as she admits that motherhood means more to her than fame and fortune ever could.

  • Michael Douglas reveals what he and Catherine Zeta-Jones do on Fridays: 'She makes me look good!'

    Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones spend their Friday nights dancing together although he finds it a bit "intimidating" because she is such an accomplished mover.

  • Louis Gossett Jr.'s cause of death revealed

    Louis Gossett Jr.'s official cause of death has been revealed just days after it had been announced that he had passed away at the age of 87.

  • Jodie Foster was 'always interested' in life away from Hollywood stardom

    Jodie Foster admits she was "always interested" in having a normal life after finding fame as a child and going on to an Oscar-winning career as an adult.

  • Strange celestial phenomenon: Atmosphere turns half white

    Residents of the Philippine island of Mindanao filmed a strange sight at the end of March. One half of the sky appeared white, the other blue. There was an optical phenomenon behind the two-tone appearance.

  • Olympic torch makes Acropolis overnight stop a week before handover to Paris organizers

    ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The flame that will burn at the Olympics is spending the night at the ancient Acropolis in Athens, a week before its handover to Paris 2024 organizers. During a lull in heavy rain late Friday, a torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, on the citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece’s top tourist draw. The flame will stay there until Saturday morning, when the champagne-colored torch travels to Delphi, an important ancient G

  • Volunteer Fair to be held in Gananoque

    As a way to help connect a variety of community groups in the area, as well as to put the word out for the need for volunteerism, Gananoque Deputy Mayor Vicki Leakey has helped create another volunteer fair. This year’s Volunteer Fair will be held April 23 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gananoque Curling Club. “Many retirees as well as newcomers to our community have asked me about what groups are active in town,” said Leakey. “In my mind, it appears volunteering is mostly about socialization, par

  • Winning culture, new arena keys to player retention in Calgary, say Flames

    CALGARY — Winning more games and the construction of a new arena will convince more NHL players that Calgary is a desirable place to play, some Flames said as they headed for the exits Friday. Calgary finished 17 points out of the playoffs with a 38-39-5 record, and missed the post-season a second straight year. The Flames have won two playoff series in the last 20 years. A 2-6-1 start to 2023-24 combined with trades of big-name pending free agents unwilling to sign contract extensions impeded t

  • Jeremy Hunt weighing stamp duty cut before election – reports

    The Government is thought to be planning one more ‘fiscal event’ before the election.

  • Scottish Greens to hold vote on future of powersharing agreement at Holyrood

    The party will hold an extraordinary general meeting, after the Scottish Government ditched a climate change target.

  • UPDATE 1-Tenet Healthcare, union coalition reach tentative deal

    A union coalition for Tenet Healthcare's workers reached a tentative labor deal with the hospital system that included across-the-board raises of 14% over three years for full and part-time workers, the union said on Friday. Labor unions across the United States have grown bolder in their demands in the last two years, pressing for higher wages and better benefits to combat a loss of spending power caused by inflation and the healthcare sector has emerged at the forefront of that trend. This is the second major agreement in the healthcare sector after Kaiser Permanente's healthcare workers in November voted to ratify a new contract with the hospital chain.

  • Birbalsingh tells Braverman to ‘take a hike’ for using her school as a ‘political football’

    Katharine Birbalsingh has taken a swipe at former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and accused her of using her school as a “political football”.

  • Teenager arrested for plotting mass shooting after manifesto revealed chilling plans to attack elementary school

    Police alerted by a friend who had been given access to Google Doc on planned shooting

  • Trump campaign announces 100,000 poll watchers and attorneys poised for election day

    Mr Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election citing baseless allegations of fraud

  • 5 Ways To Green Up Your Finances for Earth Day

    Earth Day was created in 1970 to promote awareness about the state of Earth. Activities often center around rallies and speeches about climate change, as well as ecological cleanup efforts. Check Out:...

  • 'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold

    ZEBALLOS, B.C. — A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time. Ehattesaht First Nation Chief Simon John said the young killer whale swam to an area of the lagoon where members of the neighbouring Nuchatlaht First Nation tossed about 18 kilograms of seal meat into the water on Thursday evening. They witnessed her grabbing the chunks in i

  • Donald Trump, ‘King of Debt’: 3 Infamous Loans That Helped Build His Empire

    Donald Trump built a real estate empire, with commercial and residential properties, hotels, resorts and golf courses totaling more than $1 billion, according to Forbes. Just as many real estate...

  • Remembering Kelly Ann Fleming | Columbine 25 years

    In honor of the victims of Columbine on the occasion of 25 years since the tragedy, these are the inscriptions on each plaque provided by the Columbine Memorial Foundation. This is Kelly Ann Fleming’s tribute.