But recently, “the public has ignored the current recommendation to keep a clear distance from the walrus,” Nadia Jdaini, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, told CNN in an email. Visitors swim with Freya, throw objects at her and get close to take photos — sometimes “with their kids close by,” Jdaini said. For management, this means that their warnings are not enough. “We should consider other options besides the current strategy of asking people to stay away from the wild animal,” Jdaini said. “One of those options, as the Division has previously stated since early this summer, is to give the green light to a controlled operation to put the animal down.” “Other possible solutions, such as moving the animal from the Oslo fjord, are also in ongoing discussions.” Female walruses weigh between 600 and 900 kilograms, or about 1,300 to 2,000 pounds, Jdaini said. There are more than 25,000 Atlantic walruses that make their homes in the frigid waters around Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Marine mammals migrate along the coast to feed on molluscs and other invertebrates in shallow water. Freya has become a social media sensation this summer, Rune Aae, who teaches biology at the University of Southeast Norway and runs a Google map of Freya sightings, told CNN. Several popular videos show the walrus climbing into small boats to sunbathe. “Normally, walruses will appear on certain islands, but they will leave very soon, because they are afraid of humans,” Aae said. But Freya “isn’t afraid of people,” he said. “Actually, I think she likes people. That’s why she’s not leaving.” Aae said the last time a hippopotamus was recorded this far south in the North Sea was in 2013. “It’s not common at all,” he said — prompting crowds of Norwegians to flock to see Freya. Management’s plan to transport Freya out of the fjord would be logistically challenging and dangerous, Aae said, as it would require careful timing of the sedation to ensure she does not drown in the water. He said ideally, Freya will go off on her own, as she did in March after visiting the Oslo fjord. “Killing her is an easy way out,” Aae said. “Maybe the mood has changed in public opinion about her. So I really hope they try to move her or have the patience to wait.”
