The beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, who gained notoriety for suspicions of being a Russian spy due to a harness found on him, has been found dead off the southwest coast of Norway. The carcass of the 4.2-meter-long, 1,225kg whale was discovered by a father and son who were out fishing in Risavika Bay. Hvaldimir, a symbol of hope and connection between humans and the natural world, had been monitored by the nonprofit organization Marine Mind. The whale’s sudden death has prompted concern, with a necropsy planned to determine the cause of death, as there were no major external injuries visible.
Hvaldimir first appeared off Norway’s northern coast in 2019, wearing a harness with Russian markings, leading to speculation that he had been trained by the Russian navy. However, Moscow never responded to these claims. Over the years, Hvaldimir had been seen in various Norwegian coastal towns, displaying a friendly and tame demeanor towards humans. While some suggested he may have been a “therapy whale,” it is a common belief that beluga whales live between 40 and 60 years in their natural habitat in the northern waters of Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who had been following Hvaldimir’s movements, expressed deep sadness over his death and the need to determine what led to it. The mysterious and intriguing story of Hvaldimir, the beluga whale, has come to a tragic end, leaving many questions unanswered.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com