“Shoot Freya!” wrote marine biologist Per Espen Fjeld in a chronicle that was published earlier today. He knew it was going to create reactions. – The intention is to put the whole thing into perspective, he says. – I believe that Freya should be managed in the same way as we manage almost all other animals here in Norway. We shoot and euthanize animals that are a nuisance, cost us money, are a nuisance or are dangerous. We do that all the time. RELAXING: The famous walrus Freya settled into a boat in Frognerkilen in Oslo. Photo: Daphne Steketee / news Creating problems The celebrity walrus has moved from port to port in Eastern Norway and Southern Norway in recent months, and has become a kind of attraction. But Freya has done damage, especially by relaxing on pleasure boats. The Directorate of Fisheries has also warned people that it can be dangerous to get too close to the walrus. Siri Martinsen of the animal protection organization NOAH, completely disagrees that Freya should be euthanized. – It is wrong to take the life of a wild animal just because you are annoyed by it, says Martinsen. – Killing her because she sleeps on a luxury boat because it looks like a mountain sends extremely bad signals. That all our things have priority over wildlife. – Species racism The walrus is a protected species, and the Directorate of Fisheries has stated that it is not appropriate to euthanize Freya. Marine biologist Per Espen Fjeld believes the treatment of the famous walrus is the result of “species racism”. – That large, charismatic animals, and cute and pretty animals, receive better treatment than other animals. He points out that felling permits are issued for other animals that cause problems. – Everything from a woodpecker that destroys telephone poles to a wolf that kills sheep, says Fjeld. Photo: Helena Rønning / news Næringsvandring On Monday, he was a guest on Dagsnytt 18, in a debate with marine mammal researcher Kathrine Ryeng at the Institute of Marine Research. Ryeng believes it would be wrong to talk about killing the walrus, as long as Freya is not a danger to human life and health. She also says that the walrus may decide to go back to mate, and thus become important for the population. – I think she is on a business trip. She is not sexually mature, so she is in no rush to come back and mate. – Completely astray Fjeld disagrees, and believes that the walrus is not important for the population in any case. – It is completely on the wrong track. Even if one were to manage to send it back, it is only one individual out of many thousands and has no significance whatsoever. – They belong in the Arctic. That’s where all the walruses are, and that’s where we have to take care of the walrus as a species and as a population, says Fjeld.
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NOAH reacts to the biologist’s statement that the walrus Freya should be shot – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
