Norway Had Long Suspected Its ‘Spy Whale’ Was of Russian Origin. Now That the Mystery Has Been Solved, It’s Time for Hollywood to Step In

There are many stories about intelligent animals, but the tale of the Russian spy whale is unique. In fact, the mystery surrounding it seems to have been finally resolved. In September, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported that the beluga whale Hvaldimir had been found dead off the southwest coast of Norway. Now, a BBC investigation appears to have provided a definitive answer. I can only imagine Hollywood executives scrambling to capitalize on the story.

The background story. In April 2019, a beluga whale unexpectedly captured media attention when it appeared in the cold waters of Northern Norway, surprising local fishermen. Nicknamed “Hvaldimir” (a combination of “hval,” meaning “whale” in Norwegian, and “Vladimir” in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin) by locals, the whale was found wearing a harness that sparked speculation about its potential connection to Russian espionage operations.

The harness was notable not only for its rarity in the wild but also because it featured a mount that suggested the whale might have been outfitted with a camera or similar device. Additionally, the harness was inscribed with the words “Equipment St. Petersburg,” further fueling rumors about its military origins. If this was just a hoax, it certainly garnered significant international attention.

A unique whale. Experts discovered that Hvaldimir displayed unusually friendly and trained behavior, fearlessly approaching boats and demonstrating signs of having a previous life in captivity. Joar Hesten, one fisherman who interacted with the whale, recounted how it rubbed against his boat, displaying trust and familiarity with humans that are rare in wild whales. This, combined with the presence of a harness on the whale, led to the speculation that Hvaldimir had escaped from a Russian Navy training program.

Further suspicions. From the very beginning, when suggestions about a Russian connection emerged, Moscow neither confirmed nor denied the claims. This ambiguity fueled suspicions surrounding the circumstances of the first sighting, which occurred 260 miles from Murmansk, the base of the Russian Northern Fleet.

Two years ago, USNI News, the Naval Institute’s information portal, reported that Russia had established dolphin enclosures at the entrance to the port of Sevastopol, its primary naval base in the Black Sea. The mission of these enclosures was to prevent underwater sabotage. British intelligence also noted the involvement of dolphins in protecting the Northern Fleet.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union trained animals to perform tasks such as deactivating mines, attacking divers, and even engaging in kamikaze missions. In 2000, the BBC reported that Iran had purchased dolphins trained by the Soviet Navy specifically to combat divers.

Mystery solved. The BBC recently released Secrets of the Spy Whale. In the documentary, Olga Shpak, a scientist and marine mammal expert involved in the case, says that it’s likely that Hvaldimir was connected to a Russian military program in the Arctic. However, according to Shpak, the whale was probably trained for surveillance tasks at a naval base rather than for espionage. She adds that Hvaldimir was captured in 2013 in the Sea of Okhotsk and transferred the following year to a military program in the Arctic.

The whale’s intelligence, along with a spirited and rebellious nature, made Hvaldimir an ideal candidate for training. Interestingly, some of his former trainers described him as a bit of a “hooligan,” suggesting that this very independence may have led him to escape when given the opportunity.

The use of animals in military operations. The BBC documentary ends with an interesting reflection. The case of Hvaldimir has reignited the debate surrounding the ethical implications of using animals for military purposes, a practice that Russia has reportedly engaged in for decades. Programs that train marine animals for various military functions, like surveillance, raise deep ethical questions about the manipulation of animal life for human objectives.

While the strategic advantages of these programs might be significant for the nations involved, Hvaldimir’s story illustrates the personal costs and long-lasting effects on the lives of these creatures. Many animals involved in these kinds of programs are left scarred and struggle to reintegrate into their natural habitats.

In the end, Hvaldimir’s journey, from his mysterious arrival in Norway to his tragic end years later, represents a narrative of incomplete freedom. It highlights the conflict between human intervention and the natural world and showcases the tension between nature and technology.

Image | Олег Мороз

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