Hvaldimir, the famous beluga whale thought to have escaped from a life as a Russian spy, was found dead recently under suspicious circumstances, raising concerns among animal rights advocates. Hvaldimir gained global attention after a group of fishermen discovered him off Norway’s coast in 2019, wearing a harness marked “Equipment St. Petersburg.”
His friendly personality endeared him to many as he traveled along the Norwegian coast, often visiting fish farms and seeking human interaction. Described by the nonprofit Marine Mind as responsive to hand signals, Hvaldimir’s playful antics included retrieving a dropped GoPro camera and interacting with an underwater drone, which helped him gather many fans.
Despite his popularity, Hvaldimir faced challenges including injuries from boat strikes and concerns about his solitary lifestyle affecting his chances of survival. Observations of him last year in Sweden, an area with denser human activity and fewer fish, intensified fears for his well-being.
Hvaldimir’s plight inspired the formation of two nonprofits aimed at marine conservation. OneWhale sought to protect him from human threats, while Marine Mind focused on tracking his movements and raising awareness about marine species conservation. Recently, OneWhale had planned to relocate him to an Arctic beluga population, with the support of the Norwegian government.
Tragically, Hvaldimir was discovered dead in heavily trafficked waters near Stavanger, Norway. Marine Mind reported that although the cause of death is not yet known, a necropsy will be performed to ascertain the details of his passing. At the time of his death, Hvaldimir was estimated to be between 14 and 15 years old, while beluga whales typically live more than 30 years.
OneWhale expressed suspicion that Hvaldimir did not die of natural causes, citing bloodied wounds on his body as observed by marine biologists. While some experts mentioned there were no visible injuries, calls for clarity around the circumstances of his death continue as emotions run high in the community.
Many remain perplexed about Hvaldimir’s origins and the events leading to his death. Speculation persists that he escaped from Russian captivity related to military interests, with suggestions that he could be a missing therapy whale named Seymon. Regardless of the circumstances, Hvaldimir’s charm and spirit captured the hearts of countless admirers, highlighting the importance of marine conservation and raising awareness of the struggles faced by beluga whales and other marine life.