News of a 'spy' whale made the rounds on the Internet in 2019. It was when a tame beluga whale was spotted approaching fishing boats in Norwegian waters, according to reports at the time. It was also seen wearing a harness stamped with "Equipment of St. Petersburg."
Accused 'Spy' Turned Tourist Attraction
This sparked speculation that the beluga was part of a Russian military program that trained cetaceans for various military activities such as underwater surveillance and recovery. It has since escaped to seas near Norway.
The use of cetaceans in military exercises, such as the beluga whale, has been practiced by the United States armed forces and other nations, which has alarmed animal rights groups. The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) slammed the US Navy in 2017 for the tragic death of Makai, a 46-year-old male dolphin.
The cetacean's apparatus was removed in a rescue operation in 2021, according to IMMP, and the beluga, which has been particularly fond of showing affection for human interaction, drew a steady stream of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the friendly mammal. This sparked an unexpected boom in the tourism industry in the area, affecting local fishing routes. The viral whale quickly became an Internet sensation.
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The whale is now known as Hvaldimir, after the Norwegian word for whale and the current Russian president. Unfortunately, Hvaldimir's fondness for human vessels led to fishing problems and serious injuries as a result of the whale's visibility in the busy bodies of water. Reports indicate that the beluga has been injured by boat propellers, sharp objects, and fishing hooks. This is according to news updates released by the same advocacy group.
Efforts to Save Hvaldimir
The whale's activity, which disrupted fishing in Norwegian waterways, frustrated fishermen in the area. According to The Guardian, Hvaldimir's situation has inspired a British entrepreneur to set up a charity and begin raising funds to establish the world's first open-water whale sanctuary in the Norwegian fjords.
Former real estate tycoon Adam Thorpe, who reportedly learned about Hvaldimir from a National Geographic article in 2019, is the founder of OneWhale. OneWhale is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the protection and monitoring of the beluga whale. Studies on establishing the previously stated sanctuary are also being funded by the charity organization.
OneWhale thinks that a protected reserve will safeguard Hvaldimir from tourists and allow him to live his life as naturally as possible. The group also hopes to assist other rescued cetaceans in the sanctuary. Their goal is for Hvaldimir to be joined by others of his kind and possibly be released into the wild soon.
The Norwegian government has given Thorpe and OneWhale authorization to net off the fjord, according to The Guardian. This is if he can raise £250,000 to pay for the nets to secure the area, build housing for staff to stay nearby and keep an eye on the whales, as well as establish a veterinary lab to provide care for the inhabitants.
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