The enigmatic tale of the beluga whale named Hvaldimir takes another turn as marine scientist Dr. Olga Shpak shares her insights into the animal's history. The white whale made waves in 2019 when it was found off Norway’s coast sporting a harness that had the words “Equipment St Petersburg” inscribed on it, raising eyebrows and giving rise to the theory that it was a Russian "spy whale".
Dr. Shpak, who has a background in marine mammal research in Russia, claims Hvaldimir likely escaped from a Russian military facility, emphatically stating, “For me it’s 100% (certain)”. However, she refrains from endorsing the spy narrative, positing instead that the whale may have been trained for security roles at the naval base, but exhibited rebellious tendencies leading to its escape.
The beluga first endeared itself to the locals when it approached fishermen, showcasing an unusual willingness to engage with humans; it was noted for its comical behaviors, including returning a mobile phone and nuzzling camera devices. With its inability to catch fish and a charming disposition, Hvaldimir found a temporary sanctuary in Norway, where it was affectionately named after both “whale” in Norwegian and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a revealing BBC documentary, Dr. Shpak mentions that the Russian marine mammal community quickly recognized the whale as Andruha, who had initially been captured in 2013 and transferred to a military program in 2014. Describing the whale's behaviors, Dr. Shpak said Andruha was intelligent but also a bit of a “hooligan,” suggesting that this spirited nature could explain his abrupt disappearance.
Satellite imagery provides clues about the potential origins of Hvaldimir, showing pens of white whales near the Russian naval base in Murmansk, hinting at their possible role in security operations. Moreover, while the Russian government has not definitively commented on the allegations of training marine mammals for espionage, history shows that military programs indeed often utilize such creatures for various operational tasks.
The narrative of Hvaldimir, however, does not conclude on a high note. After navigating south along Norway’s coastal waters and later being spotted off Sweden, the whale was tragically discovered dead on September 1, 2024. Initial assumptions about foul play or a violent death were dismissed by authorities after a post-mortem revealed a stick lodged in its mouth as the cause of death.
As the story of Hvaldimir develops, discussions regarding the ethics of training animals for military purposes and the implications of such actions are more relevant than ever, echoing broader concerns about the exploitation of wildlife in modern conflicts.
