The death of Hvaldimir, the beluga with a russian past

The lifeless body of the beluga Hvaldimir has been recovered, the white cetacean suspected of being a spy for the Russian Navy. The animal had become an institution in Norway, where it was first sighted years ago, and in Scandinavia

He was likely the most famous beluga whale in the world, thanks in part to a mysterious story that identified him as a Russian spy. Hvaldimir, also known as the “white whale”, now lives on in our memories.

The renowned beluga passed away over the weekend. The sad news was announced by Marine Mind, an organization that has been monitoring the cetacean since its first sighting.

Hvaldimir was found lifeless in the Risavika harbor basin. A local resident reported the sighting. The Marine Mind team reached the designated spot but could do nothing more. Their intervention only confirmed that the beluga was already dead.

His body was recovered and handed over to marine biologists, who will conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Hvaldimir had no visible wounds, which rules out collisions with boats. We must await the results of the examination for more information.

The mysterious appearance of Hvaldimir

Hvaldimir’s story began, if we can say so, in 2019. Before that year, no one had heard of the beluga. He was first observed near Hammerfest, Norway, but this cetacean was unlike any other.

One detail left animal rights activists, scientists, and authorities astounded: the beluga was wearing a harness with an underwater camera. The buckle had an inscription: “Equipment of St. Petersburg.”

Did he really come from Russia? Was he trained by the Russian navy to gather intelligence on European states for military purposes? The unusual discovery sparked a wide range of theories.

Norway adopts the Beluga

Speculation aside, Norway decided to “adopt” the beluga and named him Hvaldimir, combining the Norwegian word hval (whale) with Vladimir (Putin). Since then, Hvaldimir swam through Scandinavian waters, even venturing into Sweden.

He showed a natural inclination to approach people, a trait that could have exposed him to further dangers in the sea. Hvaldimir’s gentle and playful nature captured the hearts of everyone.

The beluga became a symbol of kindness and the importance of protecting the marine ecosystem and its species from human threats. Several organizations had mobilized to relocate the beluga to a sanctuary in the Arctic, where he could have continued to live freely.

Such a transfer could have shielded him from the popularity and interactions that had increased in recent years. His story should prompt us to reflect.

Sources: Marine Mind – OneWhale/Facebook