Russian Spy Whale Reportedly Spotted in Swedish Waters
Beluga whale suspected as Russian spy reaches Swedish waters, as reported by OneWhale, an organization dedicated to safeguarding its well-being
A beluga whale, believed to be a Russian spy, has been sighted in Swedish waters, as reported by OneWhale, an organization dedicated to the well-being of marine animals. The whale, known as Hvaldimir, gained worldwide attention in 2019 when it was discovered wearing a custom harness equipped with a camera mount, sparking speculation that it may have been under the training of the Russian military.
"After completing a four-year journey south along the coast of Norway, the infamous Russian spy beluga whale, Hvaldimir, has now been sighted in Swedish waters," announced OneWhale in a statement on Monday.
The recent sighting of Hvaldimir in Norway's capital, Oslo, has raised concerns for the whale's safety due to the high volume of boat traffic in the area.
OneWhales announced that the renowned beluga successfully navigated the perilous waters near Oslo and made its way to Sweden. The organization expressed admiration for Sweden's swift action in ensuring Hvaldimir's safety, noting that they promptly reached out upon his arrival and even closed a bridge to safeguard him.
President of OneWhale, Rich German, had further praise for Swedens reaction to the whales arrival.
Linn Saether/AP
'Spy' beluga having a whale of a time in Norway
"Hvaldimir's situation is highly vulnerable in Sweden, a densely populated country, but we are grateful that the Swedish authorities have swiftly stepped in to look after the whale," he stated.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries reported earlier this month that Hvaldimir has been "making its way along the Norwegian coast" since 2019, with a few intermittent stops.
The whale "tends to stay at farms where it has been able to catch fish, grazing on surplus feed," the directorate added.
Hvaldimir is known to follow boats and play with those on board.
The arrival of the whales in the densely populated area around Oslo has significantly increased the risk of injury due to human contact, according to the directorate at the time.
In 2019, experts informed CNN that Hvaldimir was a trained animal and evidence indicated that the whale originated from Russia.
Marine biologist Jorgen Ree Wiig from Norway's Directorate of Fisheries informed CNN that the harness seemed to be custom-made and had mounts for GoPro cameras on both sides. The harness also had clips that read "Equipment St. Petersburg," leading to the speculation that the whale originated from Murmansk, Russia, and may have been trained by the Russian navy.
The navy has "been known to train belugas to conduct military operations before," Wiig said, "like guarding naval bases, helping divers, finding lost equipment."
