Suspected Russia-trained spy whale seen off Sweden’s coast
A beluga whale, suspected to have been trained by the Russian navy for spying purposes, has been spotted off the coast of Sweden. Dubbed Hvaldimir, the whale made international headlines in 2019 when marine biologists discovered it wearing a human-made harness near the coast of Norway. In recent months, it has been moving beyond its natural environment, with sightings off the coast of Sweden. OneWhale, an organization tracking the animal’s movements, has expressed concern about Hvaldimir’s ability to find food in new waters and its well-being, as it has already lost weight. While in captivity, the whale might have been accustomed to human beings, but Frank Bakke-Jensen of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries urged people to keep their distance from the animal to avoid harming it.
FAQs:
What is a beluga whale?
A beluga whale is a marine mammal found in icy waters near Greenland, northern Norway, and Russia. The whales can grow up to 20 feet in length and can live anywhere from 40 to 60 years.
Why is Hvaldimir famous?
Hvaldimir became famous in 2019 after marine biologists discovered a human-made harness on the whale near the coast of Norway. Officials believe that the animal might have been trained by the Russian military for spying purposes.
Where was Hvaldimir recently spotted?
Hvaldimir was recently spotted off the coast of Sweden. Although researchers are not sure why the whale has moved beyond its natural environment, they believe that Hvaldimir could be searching for a mate or other beluga whales to interact with.
Why are scientists concerned about Hvaldimir’s well-being?
OneWhale, an organization tracking Hvaldimir’s movements, has expressed concern about the animal’s ability to find food and its loss of weight. Additionally, officials have urged people to avoid contact with the creature to prevent injury or harm.
What has been the response from Russian officials?
Russian officials have not commented on the speculation that Hvaldimir was trained by the Russian navy for spying purposes.
Whale believed to be trained by Russia spotted near Sweden’s shoreline.
A beluga whale suspected to be a spy trained by the Russian navy has been spotted off the coast of Sweden, according to officials tracking the creature’s movement. Dubbed Hvaldimir by locals, the white whale first gained fame in 2019 after being discovered in a harness off the coast of Norway. Now, he has moved further south, prompting concern from scientists who say he is quickly moving away from his natural environment. Hvaldimir may be driven by hormones or loneliness in his search for other beluga whales, according to Sebastian Strand of marine biology organisation OneWhale. While officials have urged residents to avoid contact with him, the whale will continue to be monitored, said Frank Bakke-Jensen of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.