A beluga whale called Hvaldimir, named as a pun on his supposed Russian roots and the Norwegian word for whale, has been seen in Swedish waters.
The non-profit organization OneWhale, which supports Hvaldimir, has been in touch with Swedish officials who have taken swift action to protect the whale.
The group's founder, Regina Haug, stated that the authorities even closed a bridge to ensure the whale's safety, as reported by The Washington Post.
The supposed ex-Russian spy has been wandering along the Norwegian coastline for some time now, making acquaintances with the locals and becoming recognized for his wide smile.
Recently, he has been discovered in Sweden, and though authorities are uncertain of how to handle him, they have received him with open arms. It is important to note, however, that he is a whale.
Is it a Russian Spy?
The arrival of Hvaldimir in Sweden has brought a new global aspect to the ongoing story of interest and worry on how to properly handle the affectionate creature believed to have been a previous intelligence asset.
In 2019, Norwegian fishermen noticed a beluga whale that kept bothering them while they were fishing. Upon closer inspection, they found that the whale had a harness with the words "Equipment of St. Petersburg" written on it.
This led them to believe that the whale was part of a Russian navy program that aimed to train marine animals as spies. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied the existence of such a program, but they had previously advertised for dolphins with similar intentions.
Initially, Hvaldimir stayed in the Finnmark area, where he was discovered in northern Norway, close to the border with Russia. However, he was recently seen in Oslofjord, which is a narrow body of water at the entrance of Norway's capital city and most populated area.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries advised people to stay away from the beluga whale in Oslofjord. Frank Bakke-Jensen, the agency's director, cautioned that in a highly populated region, encountering the whale could expose him to the risk of being harmed, and in the worst scenario, killed by boat traffic.
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Looking for Human Contact?
The reason for his journey towards crowded areas was not obvious at first, but according to Vanessa Pirotta, a scientist who specialized in wildlife and used to train marine mammals, it's probable that he is looking for human contact.
According to Pirotta, the beluga whale's life before arriving in northern Norway may have involved being trained by humans.
Since then, the whale has gained popularity among locals due to a viral video of it retrieving a phone that had fallen in the water. This has increased the whale's desire for human interaction, as beluga whales are social animals and usually travel in groups in the wild.
The discussion about what to do with Hvaldimir, the friendly whale, revolves around his strong desire to interact with humans.
OneWhale, a group dedicated to providing refuge, rehabilitation, and release for whales, suggests creating a protected area where Hvaldimir can be rehabilitated and reunited with his wild beluga counterparts, allowing him to live freely among his own kind.
But a plan that involves putting him into captivity would be "taking a step back," Pirotta said. She noted that Hvaldimir is already in the wild and that whales that have become accustomed to human interaction often have difficulties assimilating into wild populations.
The Norwegian fisheries agency opposed the idea of capturing Hvaldimir and keeping him in captivity because he is a wild animal. However, if Hvaldimir continues to appear in areas with more people, the agency's stance may change.
Pirotta explained that the situation is complex, but everyone involved wants the best for Hvaldimir. Although some worry about his presence in Sweden, Pirotta reassures that his situation in Scandinavian waters is not critical. He has shown intelligence by finding his own food and avoiding dangerous encounters with humans and their boats.
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