Seeing charismatic animals such as walrus come to rest on our shorelines is fascinating and awe inspiring, it is unsurprising that these animals draw a crowd.  

It is also a clear indicator that these animals are out of their normal habitat and we certainly (as humans) need to figure out a way of accommodating them and providing the conditions necessary for them to rest and gain the energy required to travel back to their home.

More and more large marine mammals are being displaced due to climate change, there is a lack of consistency globally in how these animals are protected and managed when they come into close proximity with humans.  

We urgently need legislation and protocols to ensure a case like "Freya" never happens again.

In case you don't know Freya's story... During 2022, authorities failed to take appropriate action to manage public (and animal) safety, and on the 14th August 2022 an Out of Habitat walrus who had been given the name Freya was (without wider consultation) euthanised (shot) at the direction of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.  

This action was taken despite being offered guidance and assistance from a number of conservation and animal welfare organisations such as British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Seal Rescue Ireland and Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust with direct experience of similar situations.  Most recently these organisations had assisted a Walrus given the name "Wally The Walrus" throughout the summer of 2021 allowing him to successfully return North.

We would like to remind the Norwegian government, that Norway is also subject to international agreements of particular relevance to the management of walruses and their habitats; including the following:

• The Convention on Biological Diversity www.cbd.int 
• The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) (Wiig et al., 2014) www.coe.int/en/web/bern-convention
• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Jeffries, 2016) www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/UNCLOS-TOC.htm

An open letter will be sent to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries and this petition serves to support our aims of:

1. A full investigation into the process and protocols adopted to make the decision to end life.
2. New legislation and protocols for future scenarios involving large displaced marine mammals. 

We are ready and willing to take an active role in ensuring the above points are achieved and call on your support in signing this petition to demonstrate the global importance of this cause. Achieving both these points will serve to ensure we cohabit appropriately and respectfully in future.

The Open Letter can be found HERE

We thank you for your support in signing and sharing this petition

Photo of Freya the Walrus by Hugh Harrop / Shetland Wildlife