A dead white whale named Hvaldimir was found near Norway. Hvaldimir, a beluga, gained attention because his name combines the Norwegian word "hval" (meaning whale) and the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was first spotted by fishermen in April 2019 near the Arctic island of Ingøya.
The whale was found wearing a harness with a camera mount and a small buckle that said "Equipment St. Petersburg," leading to speculation that he was a Russian spy. This is how he earned the nickname "Russian spy" and the name Hvaldimir.
Western experts seriously suggested that the whale might have been trained for military purposes. There was speculation that the whale had been trained to spy, swimming near ships, especially around military bases, and recording important coordinates.
Audun Rikardsen, a professor at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø (Northern Norway), said, “It is most likely that the Russian Navy in Murmansk is involved.”
This beluga whale, over 4 meters long and weighing 1225 kilograms, became famous for its friendly behavior. It often approached boats, sang to people, and enjoyed interacting with them. His fame spread across Scandinavia, where the press frequently covered his activities. The whale seemed almost tame, rubbing against ships to get attention and playing with humans, making him a beloved figure in the region.
In 2019, experts said the following about the white beluga whale:
"The whale is so tame that when you call it, it comes to you on its own."
"This is a fantastic experience, but we also view it as a tragedy. We see that it has been trained to retrieve items thrown into the sea."
One Norwegian fisherman even jumped into the Arctic water to help remove the harness from the whale. The beluga trusted the man and allowed him to take off the burden.
After this, Norwegian military officials showed "particular interest" in the harness and took it for examination.
Now, the whale has been found dead in the Risavika Bay in southern Norway. There were no visible injuries, so specialists will have to investigate the cause of death. However, it is unlikely that the whale died of natural causes, as it was young and healthy.
Considering the whale's militarized image, it is possible that it was killed deliberately. It could have been poisoned, as people often fed it by hand. After studying a lot of information, I believe with high probability that it was killed out of hatred. The whale had become a symbol of Russia for the West and Scandinavian countries, representing our Motherland.
It pains me deeply to write about this. How much suffering we, as humans, cause to our fellow creatures! We tear into the living flesh of nature, destroy ecosystems, and ruin all life around us. We exploit animals, tame them, and break their spirits.
The tragic story of the white whale from St. Petersburg is just one example of humanity's cruel treatment of our lesser brethren.
The death of the white whale must not go unnoticed or forgotten. The least we can do is spread the word and tell people about this tragedy!
Share this on social media. Let this be a lesson to all of us!
© Pavel Pashkov
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