Norwegian authorities announced on Thursday that they are considering euthanizing Freya the sea, which has become a summer star in the Oslo fjord, putting the public and the animal’s life at risk. Despite constant calls to stay away and not disturb the mammal, Freya, a young female weighing around 600 kilograms, continues to attract a lot of attention, the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate explained in a press release accompanying the photo. crowd of onlookers in the immediate vicinity of the beach.
“The reckless behavior of the public and the disregard of the instructions of the authorities can put lives at risk“said the spokesperson of the Directorate of Fisheries, Nadia Jdaini. “We are currently investigating additional measures, among which euthanasia may be a viable alternative.“, he added.
Significant damage
Sea otters mostly live in the more northerly latitudes of the Arctic, but Freya, whose name refers to the goddess associated with love and beauty in Norse mythology, has been bathing in the capital’s waters since July 17. A fierce summer star, the animal has been filmed chasing birds or climbing onto boats that sway under its weight to take a nap (the falcon can sleep up to 20 hours a day), causing damage in the process. considerable.
Authorities are urging people to keep their distance and strongly advise against swimming or kayaking near Freya, “which isn’t necessarily as sloppy and clumsy as you might think when it’s resting.” But despite the instructions, the animal continues to be disturbed by curious people who bathe nearby or get too close to it, sometimes with children, to take pictures, the fisheries department said. In this country infatuated with “slow TV”, the newspaper Verdens Gang at one point even decided to broadcast his every move live on its website. “His well-being is clearly decreasing. The sea is not calm enough and the experts we are talking to now think it is stressedMrs. Jdaini argued.
A protected species, the manatee feeds mainly on invertebrates such as molluscs, shrimps, crabs and small fish. Although it doesn’t usually attack people, authorities say it can feel threatened by unwanted people and attack them.
Source: Le Figaro
