• durgesh dubey
• 02 Sep, 2024

Beluga whale

A beluga whale named Hvaldimir, who captivated global attention in 2019, has been found dead in Norway, according to reports. The 14-foot-long, 2,700-pound whale gained fame when he was first spotted five years ago wearing a harness that appeared to be designed for a camera, leading to widespread speculation and the nickname "Hvaldimir the spy whale." The harness, labeled with "equipment" from St. Petersburg, sparked theories that the whale was part of a Russian reconnaissance mission. However, Russia never claimed ownership, leaving many to wonder whether Hvaldimir was truly a spy or just a victim of unusual circumstances.

Hvaldimir, whose name is a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and the Russian name Vladimir, became a global sensation. Unlike other belugas that typically live in the Arctic's remote, icy waters, Hvaldimir seemed unusually comfortable around humans, leading experts to believe he had been in captivity for much of his life.

"It’s heartbreaking. He’s touched thousands of people’s hearts just here in Norway," said Sebastian Strand, founder of the nonprofit Marine Mind, which worked to protect Hvaldimir, in an interview with The New York Times.

Last year, Norwegian authorities advised citizens to avoid contact with Hvaldimir after he was seen in a fjord near Oslo. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries issued a statement warning that Hvaldimir’s presence in the densely populated area increased the risk of injury due to human interaction.

Hvaldimir’s body was discovered floating in Risavika Bay, southern Norway, by a father and son who were out fishing, as reported by the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Marine Mind, the organization that had been tracking Hvaldimir, posted on social media, "Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world."

Hvaldimir was first spotted off Norway’s northern coast in 2019, and his harness, which seemed to have a camera mount stamped with the words "Equipment St Petersburg," fueled speculation that he might be a "spy whale." Norwegian officials speculated that Hvaldimir may have escaped from an enclosure and was possibly trained by the Russian navy, given his apparent familiarity with humans. However, Moscow never addressed these speculations.

After Hvaldimir was found dead, his body was lifted from the water with a crane and taken to a nearby harbor for further examination. "We’ve managed to retrieve his remains and put him in a cooled area, in preparation for a necropsy by the veterinary institute that can help determine what really happened to him," said marine biologist Sebastian Strand. No major external injuries were visible on the whale.

With an estimated age of around 15 years, Hvaldimir was not old for a beluga whale, which can live up to 60 years. He first approached Norwegian boats in April 2019 near Ingøya island, about 415 kilometers from Murmansk, where Russia’s Northern Fleet is based. The sighting drew significant attention, as belugas are rarely seen this far south of the Arctic.

The discovery led to an investigation by Norway's domestic intelligence agency, which later suggested that the whale was likely trained by the Russian army, given his comfort around humans. Locally, the whale was known as Hvaldimir, a play on the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name.

Russia has a history of training marine mammals, such as dolphins, for military purposes. The Barents Observer identified whale pens near naval bases in the Murmansk region. However, Russia has never officially confirmed that Hvaldimir was part of a military program and has denied the existence of any such programs.