Norwegian officials have announced that the walrus, which recently became a popular attraction in Norway’s Oslo Fjord, has been euthanized due to public safety concerns.

The walrus, dubbed Freya, attracted attention after it began swimming in the waters of the Norwegian capital Oslo, although the mammal usually lives in more northern latitudes.

Then she became a real star – a young female Freya weighing almost 600 kilograms delighted the audience, climbing to sunbathe on boats in the fjord, sometimes drowning them.

But people ignored warnings not to approach the walrus, putting both themselves and the animal at risk.

According to local media, at one point police had to block access to the swimming area after the walrus chased the woman into the water.

Last week, Norway’s Ministry of Fisheries released a photo of a large group of people, including children, standing very close to the animal.

On Sunday, the head of the Norwegian Fisheries Authority, Frank Bakke-Jensen, announced that the decision to euthanize the animal was made “based on a general assessment of the ongoing threat to human safety.”

“From last week’s on-site monitoring, it became clear that the public was ignoring the advice to keep a clear distance from the walrus. Therefore, the administration concluded, the probability of a threat to people and animals was high,” he added.

He also said other options, including relocating the walrus, were considered but were ruled out because they would threaten the walrus’ welfare.

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