The beluga whale that captured global attention in 2019 when he was found wearing a harness labelled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” has been found dead off the coast of Norway.
The 14-foot-long, 2,700-pound whale named “Hvaldimir” was found by a father and son fishing in the bay of Risavika, near Stavanger, on August 31, according to The New York Times.
How Hvaldimir Died
Sebastian Strand, founder of the nonprofit Marine Mind, which worked to protect Hvaldimir, expressed his heartbreak over the whale’s death, saying he had touched thousands of people’s hearts in Norway. The cause of Hvaldimir’s death is still under probe, but officials have confirmed that he was in good health before his passing.
The whale, whose name is a blend of the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” and the Russian name Vladimir, quickly became a subject of fascination after he was first spotted near Hammerfest in northern Norway in April 2019. Beluga whales typically travel in groups and inhabit remote Arctic regions.
Was Hvaldimir A Spy?
The intrigue surrounding Hvaldimir deepened due to the harness marked as “equipment” from St. Petersburg, which led to speculation that he may have been part of a Russian reconnaissance mission. However, Russia has never claimed ownership of the whale. If Hvaldimir was a spy, he was an unusually friendly one.
He exhibited signs of domestication and was comfortable around humans, often found in busier waters than typical for belugas. This behaviour raised concerns among scientists and activists about his safety. “He was completely acclimatised to human culture,” Strand noted, suggesting that Hvaldimir had likely spent a lot of time in captivity.
In the past few years, Hvaldimir traveled along the Scandinavian coastline, even appearing off the coast of Sweden. Last year, he was seen venturing into increasingly industrial and dangerous waters. Strand reported that Hvaldimir seemed to be in good health until his unexpected death.
Comments
0 comment