The online fundraiser was launched with the aim of raising 200,000 kroner (20,300 euros) for the construction of the statue. Today at noon the goal was reached: donations exceeded 206,000 kroner.
More than 20,000 euros have been raised in a fundraiser to build a statue in honor of Freya, a walrus who this summer became the star of the Oslo fjord until authorities decided she needed to be killed to protect people.
The decision to kill the young female, which weighed 600 kilograms and belonged to a protected species, caused outrage in Norway. The marine mammal had won the hearts of residents who saw it climbing onto boats to take a nap, risking destroying them. The case even took dimensions and went beyond the borders of the country.
The online fundraiser was launched with the aim of raising 200,000 kroner (20,300 euros) for the construction of the statue. Today at noon the goal was reached: donations exceeded 206,000 kroner.
“The killing of Freya sends a negative message: that Norway and especially Oslo is not in a position to protect wild animals,” explained Erik Holm, who came up with the idea for the fundraiser. “With the statue of Freya, we ourselves and future generations will remember that we are not allowed to kill nature because it was in our way,” he added.
Walruses usually live in colder waters, in the Arctic, but Freya, named after the goddess of love and beauty in Norse mythology, appeared in the waters off Oslo on July 17. Many rushed to see her up close, although authorities warned that they would be forced to euthanize her if citizens continued to approach or swim with her, putting themselves and the animal at risk.
The warnings were not heeded: the walrus was shot dead on Sunday. The head of the Norwegian Fisheries Agency, Frank Backe-Jensen, argued in a statement that the operation of moving Freya to another area would be extremely complicated and risky. “We understand that this decision will cause reactions, but I am convinced that it is the right one. We care about the animals, but the priority is the life and safety of people”, he stressed.
Backe-Jensen and his wife now say they are receiving threats. Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stere also declared that the decision to kill the animal was “correct”.
Walruses feed on molluscs, crabs and small fish. They usually don’t mess with people, but can become aggressive if they feel threatened.
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