Suspected as a Russian-trained spy, the white whale leaves Norway for Sweden, perhaps to escape solitude. Hvaldimir, as the Oslo media renamed him in reference to President Putin’s name, was seen in 2019 near the country’s northernmost region of Finnmark, wearing a usable seat belt, according to some experts. To collect images and to be produced in Russia. Hence the hypothesis that he is some kind of spy receiving a salary from the Kremlin. Moreover, Moscow seems to have found valid support for its military intelligence actions regarding marine mammals: dolphin cages have been spotted in the Black Sea, which are said to have been used to patrol the waters and protect the Russian fleet from possible underwater attacks.
Whether or not it’s part of this so-called educational programme, whale Hvaldimir has nevertheless become a star in Norway: playing with fishing boats and mingling with tourists. Several people have documented their encounter with beluga by posting videos on social media, raising their awareness. And last year, a British businessman impressed by its history offered to create a marine reserve at his own expense to house the cetacean.
However, despite his good relations with locals and tourists, Hvaldimir (a combination of “hval” meaning whale in Norwegian and “vladimir”) decided to leave Norway and move to nearby Sweden. “We don’t know why it’s accelerating so fast right now,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand of the OneWhale organization told the Guardian. “It could be hormones pushing it to find a mate – it continues – Or it could be loneliness, it could be looking for other beluga whales because belugas are a very social species”. 13-14 years old, “at an age when his hormones are very high”.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
