A beluga whale suspected of having been trained as a spy by Russia has been found dead off the Norwegian coast. The body of the animal - nicknamed Hvaldimir - was found floating off the south-western town of Risavika and taken to the nearest port for examination.
The whale was first spotted in Norwegian waters five years ago with a GoPro camera attached to a harness that read "Equipment of St Petersburg". This sparked rumours the mammal could be a spy whale - something experts say happened in the past. Moscow never responded to the allegations.
Hvaldimir's lifeless body was discovered at the weekend by Marine Mind, an organisation that has tracked his movements for years. Marine Mind founder Sebastian Strand told AFP news agency that the cause of death was unknown and that Hvaldimir's body had no obvious injuries.
"We've managed to retrieve his remains and put him in a cooled area, in preparation for a necropsy by the veterinary institute," he told AFP news agency.
With an estimated age of about 15, Hvaldimir was not old for a Beluga whale, whose lifespan can reach 60 years. He first approached Norwegian boats in April 2019 near the island of Ingoya, about 415km (260 miles) from Murmansk where Russia's Northern Fleet is based. The sighting attracted attention because belugas are rarely seen this far south of the high Arctic.
The discovery led to an investigation by Norway's domestic intelligence agency, which later said that the whale was likely to have been trained by the Russian army as he seemed accustomed to humans. The whale became known locally as Hvaldimir, a pun on the Norwegian word for whale, "hval", and President Vladimir Putin.
Hvaldimir's Suspicious Past
Russia has a history of training marine mammals such as dolphins for military purposes and the Barents Observer website has identified whale pens near naval bases in the north-west area of Murmansk. Russia has never officially addressed the claim that Hvaldimir may have been trained by the Russian military. It has previously denied the existence of any programmes seeking to train sea mammals as spies.
The 4.2-metre (14ft), 1,225kg (2,700lb) whale was first spotted in April 2019 by fishers near the northern island of Ingøya, not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest. He was wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera and a buckle marked with the words “Equipment St Petersburg”. That sparked allegations the beluga was a “spy whale”. Experts have said the Russian navy is known to have trained whales for military purposes.
A Whale With a Friendly Nature
Over the years, the beluga was seen in the waters off several Norwegian coastal towns and it quickly became clear that he was very tame and enjoyed playing with people, NRK said. Marine Mind said on its site that Hvaldimir was very interested in people and responded to hand signals. “Based on these observations, it appeared as if Hvaldimir arrived in Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity,” it said. Because of this behaviour, Norwegian media have also speculated that Hvaldimir may have been used as “a therapy whale” of some sort in Russia.
Possible Causes of Death
The marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK: “Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away, but it’s not immediately clear what the cause of death is.” He added that no major external injuries were visible on the animal. Strand, who has monitored Hvaldimir’s adventures for the past three years on behalf of the Norway-based non-profit organisation Marine Mind, said he was deeply affected by the whale’s sudden death.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Strand said. “He was apparently in good condition as of [Friday], so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”
Hvaldimir's death comes amid growing tensions in an already frosty relationship between Norway and Russia due to the Ukraine war. Norway is an active member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has been intensifying drills and exercises in the region to prepare for a heightened possibility of war with Russia.
A Whale Who Touched the Hearts of Many
Hvaldimir was found dead in heavily trafficked waters just outside of Stavanger, Norway, according to OneWhale. The organization does not believe the beluga's death was natural and has asked Norwegian authorities to perform a necropsy. "We are heartbroken," OneWhale wrote in a Facebook post. "We are angry, too, as we have had to fight so hard, for so long to help him out of danger. And he was finally so close to having a better life. But We are angry at those who worked to block his move and spread misinformation."
Hvaldimir was given his name based on "Hval," the Norwegian word for whale and "Vladimir, " a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the whale's alleged association with Russia.
Hvaldimir's death is a reminder of the fragility of the natural world and the impact of human activity on marine life. It also underscores the importance of ongoing research and conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.
Farewell, Hvaldimir
Hvaldimir, the beluga whale who captured the hearts of many, may be gone, but his story will continue to inspire us to protect our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. His legacy is a reminder of the importance of understanding and respecting the natural world, and the need to work together to ensure the survival of all species, no matter how large or small.
