The monument to the famous walrus of Hamina harbor was unveiled on Thursday evening in the city’s harbor area in Tervasaari, accompanied by cannon shots and accordion music.
The nation’s eyes turned to Hamina in mid-July, when a walrus came ashore between the boats. The walrus’s journey, which included a few more beachings, was followed by the national media for about a week, until it died on its way to Helsinki’s Korkeasaari Wildlife Hospital.
Patu Patanen The captain of Hamina’s harbor ship Tidal wave, on whose decks a cannon fired a ceremonial shot, wanted to honor the area’s famous walrus. A local tomb and art stone carver carved the stone from red granite Seppo Huisman.
Huisman depicted the walrus with a symbolic image rather than a true copy.
"It caters to children, the elderly and everyone in between. Its symbolic meaning is in many ways broader," the engraver said, adding that he hopes the memorial can start a conversation about conservation.
Mayor of Hamina Hannu Muhonen urged people to consider whether the walrus was more than just a headline grabber.
"We need to think about the sea, its natural fauna and their well-being. It’s a coincidence that the walrus got here, but this phenomenon still tells a story about how our world is changing," he told Yle.
The walrus and the surrounding media hatred gave rise to numerous obituaries, songs, memes and even souvenir magnets.
The dead walrus is currently being preserved and is scheduled to be ready for display at the Natural History Museum, which could take over a year.