Astri Tonoian’s sculpture of Freya was unveiled at Kongen Marina in Oslo, not far from where the walrus was killed last year. Many were present and several held appeals before the unveiling, including initiator Erik Holm, Christian Ringnes and Siri Martinsen, the leader of Noah – for animal rights. A rose has been laid by the unveiled Freya statue. The artist Astri Tonoian together with initiator Erik Holm, Siri Martinsen i Noah and walrus expert Rune Aae during the unveiling on Saturday Rune Aae and Erik Holm unveiled the sculpture of Freya at Kongen Marina in Oslo. The killing attracted a lot of attention both in Norway and abroad, and a campaign raised NOK 270,000 to make a statue of Freya. The sculpture of Freya just before the unveiling on Saturday. Photo: Kristine Ramberg Aasen / news When Tonoian received the assignment, she said that the case is important. – Not just because of Freya alone. But it was a great opportunity to talk about the general lines of how we humans relate to nature. It is more about a contribution to a symbol that can be for posterity and that can remind us how we make some decisions and how well they are justified, Tonoian said then. People crowded around the statue of Freya before the unveiling. Photo: Kristine Ramberg Aasen / news After a long spring and summer along the Norwegian coast, the 600-kilogram walrus was euthanized early in the morning on August 14, 2022. It happened after the walrus appeared at the Kadettangen bathing area in Bærum where it was in close contact with people bathing. Freya the walrus got close to people – and people got close to her. Photo: Olav Døvik / news – We concluded that people’s lives and health could be in danger, said director of fisheries Frank Bakke-Jensen in a press release at the time. On her journey along the Norwegian coast and into the Oslo Fjord, Freya took rest breaks on piers and leisure boats. Photo: Joshua V. Jaunsen / tipster
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