Hvaldimir, the Beluga Whale Spy Who Chose Freedom, Dies

She’s dead Hvaldimir, the beluga whale which became famous because, when it was first sighted in the waters of Hammerfesthe was wearing a harness equipped with an underwater camera and the words “St. Petersburg equipment” which instantly earned him the title of “spy from the East”.

No apparent injuries and an early death

His body was found floating in the water, apparently without injuries, in Risavika Bay, southern Norway. Lifted by crane and transported to the port, it was reported to the operators of Marine Mind the conservation organization that has been dealing with the whale since 2019. Sebastian Strandfounder and CEO of the organization, immediately announced the news on social media. “Hvaldimir was more than 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. 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 the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, taught us more about ourselves. He was special to many, leaving an indelible mark on all who were privileged to meet him. Rest in peace, Hvaldimir. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”

Symbol of freedom and liberation from the slavery of training

So, as it happens to some animals that have the ability to unconsciously transform themselves into real iconsthis beluga with a very particular history has also transformed into a symbol of freedom and liberation from the slavery of trainingin a specimen that with its choice of freedom represented in some way all the marine animals kept in captivity. Hvaldimir had in fact probably escaped from a Russian training program (it had in fact been spotted for the first time in Norwegian waters near the island of Ingøya in the municipality of Måsøy, in a region at the northern end of the country, about 300 km from the Norwegian/Russian maritime border) that would have transformed it into an “agent” capable of delivering supplies to divers, locating objects, monitoring vessels and participating in underwater surveillance using photographic equipment. The name they had given it, a play on words between “Hval”, Norwegian for whale, and Vladimir, the name of Russian President Putin, told a little about its history.

In Hammerfest he had found freedom again

“In 2019, after his arrival and removal of his harness – explains Marine Mind – Hvaldimir became a semi-permanent resident of the town of Hammerfest, above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway for a period of approximately three months. During this time, he was observed in poor condition and attempts were made to manage his care through feeding by the Norwegian Orca Survey. By monitoring his condition and feeding behavior, it was noted that Hvaldimir hunted and found available prey on his own. He finally left Hammerfest in July of the same year.”

But no one had forgotten her. On the contrary. The beluga whale, white as milk, docile and predisposed to contact with humans with whom she seemed to want to interact in a friendly and playful way, never aggressive, had become the protagonist of countless videos and photographs, a real web star with very frequent sightings in Norwegian waters where he had shown to be comfortable in his newfound freedom. «Although he was documented while feeding completely on his own – they explain – Hvaldimir continued to actively seek out human presence and aquaculture activities, spending most of his time in fish farming facilities».

Marine Mind has worked hard in recent years to ensure that its presence does not become a nuisance for fishermen, with the possible intervention of the Norwegian authorities, and at the same time does not turn into a tourist attraction capable of attracting crowds of tourists potentially dangerous for the animal itself. In 2022, moreover, the founder of OneWhaleAdam Thorpe, had managed to obtain from the Norwegian government an initial green light for the construction of a sanctuary off the coast of Hammerfest, where Hvaldimir could have found refuge for the rest of his life in semi-freedom.

In the meantime, the milk-white whale, photogenic and increasingly lively, had continued to gather consensus and admirers. Perhaps because of her charm, that immaculate color, that way of gliding elegantly and sinuously through the sea waters, she had entered the hearts of many who continued to follow her events documented through social media. Her death, sudden and certainly premature (beluga whales can live up to sixty years) has affected many and, probably, still remains incomprehensible, even if everyone hopes that theautopsy which will be conducted shortly to ascertain the causes, does not involve human intervention. “Due to the great attention surrounding the whale – declared the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries – we have decided to perform an autopsy in an attempt to determine the cause of death. It will be conducted by Norwegian Veterinary Institute and the conclusion will be public in two or three weeks.”