Hvaldimir

Hvaldimir. Photo courtesy of OneWhale.

Hvaldimir (pronounced VAAL-deh-meer), more famously known as the "Russian spy beluga," is a male beluga whale who was found swimming alone in Hammerfest, Norway, in April of 2019. Hvaldimir has garnered internet fame for his unusual appearance in Norway, where he has remained until this day.

## First Sighting

On April 26, 2019, a beluga whale was first sighted in the vicinity north of Hammerfest, near the island of Ingøya and the village of Tufjord on the island of Rolvsøya in Norway wearing a harness with a camera mount and the inscription "Equipment St. Petersburg." The harness raised suspicions that Hvaldimir may have been trained by the Russian military for surveillance purposes, leading to widespread speculation about his role as a potential espionage agent. However, the exact nature of Hvaldimir's connection to the Russian military remained unclear, and the Russian government has denied any involvement.

After initial sightings, efforts were made to remove the harness, which had become tight and caused discomfort for the beluga. Hvaldimir immediately sought out humans for food, further supporting the theory that he may have been raised in captivity. He also exhibited behaviors indicative of a desire for human interaction, seeking contact with boats and swimmers which has made his re-integration back into the wild challenging.

Both the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries and law enforcement officials issued advisories urging the public not to feed Hvaldimir and to maintain a respectful distance, in order to prevent undue stress. Concerns began to arise that the whale might display aggressive behavior or develop a further, unhealthy dependence on human interactions. Initially, there was a proposal to relocate Hvaldimir to the Beluga Whale Sanctuary in Iceland, which already housed Little Grey and Little White. However, given the whale's apparent efforts to forage independently, the Directorate of Fisheries opted in mid-May not to pursue this relocation. Subsequently, it became evident that Hvaldimir was suffering from malnutrition, prompting the Municipality of Hammerfest to assume responsibility for his care. Norwegian Orca Survey took charge of feeding him.

## Norway

Reports later surfaced indicating Hvaldimir's deteriorating health, including an incident where he was hooked by an angler, resulting in injuries. The two primary personnel from the Norwegian Orca Survey at the time possessed prior experience with Marineland and SeaWorld, which allowed them to confirm the fact that Hvaldimir responded to trained cues, indicating prior training. They proceeded to employ Hvaldimir's trained behaviors to conduct daily "feeding shows" for cruise boat passengers in Hammerfest Harbor. Additionally, the trainers taught Hvaldimir to position himself alongside a boat, facilitating potential medical interventions.

Following considerable public attention, Hvaldimir departed Hammerfest harbor in July, evidently having acquired the ability to locate food independently. Sightings of the whale occurred multiple times in August near Seiland. Subsequently, in early September, Hvaldimir appeared in the harbor at Alta, exhibiting signs of a propeller injury.

## Recent Movements

As of January 2023, Hvaldimir continued to inhabit the fisheries along the Norwegian coast, engaging regularly with workers, fishermen, residents, and tourists. In May 2023, Hvaldimir was observed near Hunnebostrand in southwestern Sweden, displaying a notably accelerated pace of movement along the Scandinavian coastline. Early in June 2023, Hvaldimir ventured into the densely populated area of midtown Gothenburg, Sweden. Mid-June saw him following a boat to the river Glomma. On June 26, 2023, Hvaldimir was sighted in both Strömstad and Kungshamn, two towns in close proximity to the Norwegian border.

On July 10, 2023, reports emerged indicating that the Hammerfest town council had voted in favor of establishing a private fjord sanctuary. This sanctuary would be situated away from the bustling harbor, yet still within the Finnmark region, thereby minimizing maritime traffic and mitigating potential risks posed by tourists.