PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Norway Finally Kills 1,3000 Pounds Walrus, Freya

Norwegian authorities on Sunday killed a 1,300-pound walrus named Freya, who had spent weeks off the coast of Oslo climbing onto boats and lounging on piers, saying that moving her was “too high risk.”

People refused warnings not to get too close to the 1,300lb (600kg) animal, putting her and themselves at risk.

On one occasion, police blocked off a bathing area after the walrus chased a woman into the water, local media say.

Last week, Norway’s fisheries ministry issued a photograph of a large group of people, including children, standing within touching distance of the animal.

The fisheries ministry released a picture of people gathered very close to the walrus, with faces blurred to protect privacy.

On Sunday, the director general of fisheries, Frank Bakke-Jensen, said the decision to put the animal down had been based “on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety”.

“Through on-site observations the past week it was made clear that the public has disregarded the current recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus. Therefore, the Directorate has concluded, the possibility for potential harm to people was high and animal welfare was not being maintained,” Mr Bakke-Jensen said in a statement.

He added that other options had been considered, including moving Freya out of the fjord, but they had been discarded out of concern for the welfare of the walrus.

The operation to euthanise her had been carried out “in a humane fashion”, with the body taken for further examination by vets.

Norway’s beloved Freya the walrus has been put down because she posed ‘a continued threat to human safety’, officials have confirmed.

But despite repeated appeals to the public to keep their distance from Freya – a young female weighing 1,300 pounds – the mammal continued to attract big crowds.

Walruses rarely attack humans, but are certainly strong enough to pose a danger.

Fisheries director Frank Bakke-Jensen said: ‘Through on-site observations the past week it was made clear that the public has disregarded the current recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus.

Walruses normally live in the more northerly latitudes of the Arctic.

‘Her health has clearly declined. The walrus is not getting enough rest and the experts we have consulted now suspect that the animal is stressed,’ Jdaini said.

A protected species, walruses normally eat molluscs, small fish, shrimps and crabs.

While they don’t normally attack people, they can if they feel threatened, according to authorities.

A fan of Freya wrote: “#FreyaTheWalrus

Now they’ve killed Freya, the gentle walrus who meant no harm to anyone.

It’s indefensible. Wild animals increasingly have no safe place in this world.

Every single person who ignored the warnings should be deeply ashamed. She had her whole life to live.”