Hvaldimir, a beluga whale, quickly gained fame in Norway, winning over the hearts of the locals.
The unusual story began in 2019 when he was discovered near the island of Ingoya in northern Norway wearing a harness with “Equipment St Petersburg” written in English and a mount for a small camera attached.
Hvaldimir, a name coined by Norwegians combining the Norwegian word for whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name, was intelligent, friendly, and responded to hand signals. This led Norway’s spy agency to believe he had been held in captivity for research purposes.
Once freed from his harness, Hvaldimir’s friendly nature made him a beloved figure.
The Norwegian government provided him with food and monitored his movements, labeling him a “free-swimming whale.” He ventured as far as Sweden but always returned to Norway, according to the Norwegian Orca Survey.
Hvaldimir was found dead off southern Norway last weekend.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who worked with Marine Mind, told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. “He was apparently in good condition as of (Friday), so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”
While Hvaldimir may have died of natural causes, conservation groups NOAH and One Whale have filed police reports alleging he was shot, according to the Telegraph.
The Oceanic Preservation Society stated that a necropsy will be performed on Hvaldimir to determine his cause of death in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been absolutely devastated over the news, and are deeply saddened that humanity failed this beloved whale,” the organization said on social media.
Nonprofit Marine Mind stated on Facebook that Hvaldimir “bridged the gap” between humans and wild animals in a way “few can.”
“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,” the organization said. “Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he also taught us more about ourselves.”
Reuters and