Hvaldimir the Beluga Whale Found Dead in Norway
A white beluga whale named Hvaldimir was discovered dead in the southwest of Norway. The whale, known for its unusual harness that led to speculations of it being a Russian spy, was found by a father and son while fishing in the southern Norwegian bay of Risavika.
Marine Mind, a nonprofit organization that had been tracking Hvaldimir, described him as a beacon of hope and a symbol of the deep bond between humans and the natural world. After the discovery, the whale’s carcass was lifted out of the water with a crane and taken to a nearby harbor for further examination.
Hvaldimir, whose name combines the Norwegian word for whale ‘hval’ with the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was first observed in 2019 off the coast of northern Norway. The whale’s harness, resembling a camera mount with ‘Equipment St Petersburg’ stamped on it, fueled rumors of it being a ‘spy whale.’ Norwegian officials speculated that Hvaldimir may have escaped confinement and received training from the Russian navy.
Marine biologist Sebastian Strand mentioned that the whale’s remains were retrieved and placed in a cooled area for a necropsy by the veterinary institute to determine the cause of death. Hvaldimir had been seen in several coastal towns in Norway over the past five years and was known to enjoy playing with people. Norwegian media reports suggested that Hvaldimir was more of a ‘therapy whale’ than a ‘spy whale.’
Beluga whales, typically found in the northern waters of Greenland, Norway, and Russia, usually live between 40 and 60 years. Hvaldimir was 4.2 meters (14 feet) long, weighed 1,225 kg (2,700 pounds), and was believed to be between 14 and 15 years old.
Doubts Revealed
Hvaldimir -: Hvaldimir is the name of a beluga whale. Beluga whales are white whales that live in cold waters.
Beluga Whale -: A beluga whale is a type of whale that is white and lives in cold ocean waters. They are known for their friendly nature and can make many different sounds.
Norway -: Norway is a country in Europe, known for its beautiful fjords and cold climate. It is located in the northern part of Europe.
Russian spy -: A spy is someone who secretly collects information. People thought Hvaldimir might be a Russian spy because he had a special harness that looked like it could be used for spying.
Harness -: A harness is a set of straps and fittings used to control or hold something. Hvaldimir had a harness that made people think he might be trained by humans.
Carcass -: A carcass is the dead body of an animal. When Hvaldimir was found dead, his body was called a carcass.
Examination -: Examination means to look at something very carefully. Hvaldimir’s body was taken for examination to find out how he died.
Coastal towns -: Coastal towns are towns located near the sea. Hvaldimir was often seen in these towns in Norway.
Human-nature connection -: Human-nature connection means the relationship between people and the natural world. Hvaldimir was a symbol of this because he liked being around people.