Oslo Honors Beloved Euthanized Walrus Freya with Life-Size Statue

Oslo, the capital of Norway, recently unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Freya, a beloved walrus that was euthanized due to public safety concerns. Created by Astri Tonoian, the statue portrays Freya lying on her side on a shore. Tonoian named the piece “For Our Sins,” commenting that it reflects not only how humans treat wild nature but also how they treat each other.

Source: NBC News/Youtube

An online campaign raised $25,000 to create the statue, driven by Erik Holm, who was furious about how the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate and the state handled the situation with Freya. The walrus, weighing around 600kg (1,300lb), gained popularity after frequently climbing onto boats to sunbathe, occasionally causing them to sink.

Despite warnings to keep their distance, people continued to approach Freya, putting both themselves and the animal at risk. In one instance, police cordoned off a bathing area after the walrus chased a woman into the water. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries also released a photograph of a large group of people, including children, standing dangerously close to the animal.

The public continued to get close and was even teasing poor Freya. A boat owner was even seen poking Freya with a boat oar to get her off of his boat. During a video, the man even seems to be enjoying taunting the poor animal that is in the water that she called home. The 1,300-pound walrus captured hearts in Norway and became somewhat of a tourist attraction in the city. However, Norway warned that the public was coming too close to the wild animal and threatened to kill her if the public did not stay away.

Heartbreaking news came just days after the government’s threats, and they ultimately euthanized Freya. Walruses are protected in Norway, and previously, the Directorate of Fisheries said that euthanasia was out of the question, so what changed?

It is not her fault that humans would not stay away from her. She was not hurting anyone and was simply in her natural habitat. There is no reason that authorities should not have handled the public and monitored the situation instead of euthanizing an innocent animal.

First spotted in Oslo in mid-July, Freya was named after the Norse goddess of beauty and love. As a protected species, walruses typically live further north in the Arctic and rarely attack humans.

The statue of Freya in Oslo now serves as a poignant reminder of the need to respect wild animals and their habitats, as well as the importance of maintaining a safe distance for the welfare of both humans and animals alike.

Speak Up Tee By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Petition: Demand Justice For Freya the Walrus
• Norway Government Warns Public to Stay Away from Freya the Giant Walrus or She Will Be Euthanized
• Enormous 1,300 Pound Walrus Captures Hearts For Sinking Small Docked Boats While Happily Sun Bathing on Them!
• Wally the Traveling Walrus Spotted in the Isles of Scilly
• Walrus Found 2,650 Miles South of Habitat

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