The friendly beluga whale, Hvaldimir, who has been spotted in Scandinavian waters for years, was recently seen off the coast of Sweden. This has raised concerns among researchers who fear for his safety, especially if people get too close to him. Hvaldimir gained notoriety in 2019 when he was found wearing a harness, embossed with the words “St. Petersburg equipment,” that appeared to be designed for a camera. He was dubbed a Russian spy by the media, but researchers believe that he is simply a domesticated whale that prefers the company of humans over other marine mammals.
Hvaldimir’s harness, which was removed by a fisherman in Norway, could hold a camera or other instruments. He also seemed interested in collecting objects and divers, according to marine biologist Eve Jourdain. The whale’s spy status remains unconfirmed, but researchers caution against people approaching him as he is now swimming southward, away from his usual Arctic location, and could be at risk of not finding enough food or getting injured by boat propellers in warmer waters.
There is uncertainty over what to do with Hvaldimir as sending him to live with other beluga whales in the wild is not recommended, given that he is accustomed to human contact and could become easy prey for predators like orcas. Furthermore, as a protected species, Hvaldimir’s size alone could be dangerous to people, and researchers urge the public to stay away from him.
