Famous spy whale Hvaldimir found dead in Norway
Photo: Beluga whale Hvaldimir (screenshot from the video)
Beluga whale Hvaldimir, who captivated the public’s imagination since 2019 after being spotted with what appeared to be a camera harness, was found dead on Saturday in Norway, according to The New York Times.
Sebastian Strand, the founder of the nonprofit, Marine Mind, reported seeing the dead whale in southwestern Norway on Saturday afternoon.
The cause of death is unknown, and marks on the whale’s body could have been made by birds or other marine animals.
“It’s heartbreaking. He’s touched thousands of people’s hearts just here in Norway,” Strand said.
He is working to have Hvaldimir transported to a facility where the carcass can be preserved long enough to attempt to determine the cause of death.
Estimates suggest the whale was about 14 feet long and weighed approximately 2,700 pounds.
Background
Hvaldimir, whose name is a combination of the Norwegian word “hval,” meaning whale, and the name Vladimir, was first spotted in northern Norway in 2019.
Beluga whales typically travel in groups and usually inhabit remote Arctic regions. Hvaldimir’s story gained additional intrigue due to the harness he wore, which was identified as equipment from St. Petersburg. The whale also had a camera mount.
Some speculated whether the whale was on a Russian intelligence mission. Russia has never claimed ownership of the whale.
The publication notes that if Hvaldimir was a spy, he was an entirely benign one.
The whale showed signs of domestication and was comfortable around people. He remained in more active waters than typical for belugas, which raised concerns among scientists, activists, and experts.
“He was completely acclimatized to human culture,” Strand said, adding that it appeared Hvaldimir had “been in captivity for a lot of his life.”
“I’m not sure what’s happened. But we’ll find out,” Strand said.
Additionally, Russian troops have deployed combat dolphins from occupied Sevastopol to the western part of Crimea. They were spotted at a naval base in the village of Novoozerne, located in the northwestern part of the peninsula.
