Warning: This article contains images of whale injuries.
The death of a beloved beluga whale in Norway Local animal rights groups claimed on Wednesday that once suspected of being used as a Russian spy was no accident.
Hvaldimir – whose name was a portmanteau of “hval”, the Norwegian word for whale, and the first name of the Russian president Vladimir Putin—first appeared in the Nordic nation’s waters in 2019, appearing as a harness for a camera bearing the words “Equipment St. Petersburg.” The fascinating creature became a source of international attention and was previously known for its friendly interactions with humans. found dead Saturday near Risavika in southwest Norway.
Autopsy results have not yet been released into Hvaldimir’s cause of death, but a pair of animal rights organizations say they have now filed a police report in connection with the cetacean’s death.
OneWhale, an organization that worked to protect Hvaldimir and Norway’s largest animal rights nonprofit NOAH, said in a press release Wednesday that preliminary findings indicate the whales were killed by gunshots.
They also released pictures of Hvaldimir’s bloody corpse, claiming that evaluations by multiple veterinarians and ballistics experts who reviewed photos of his injuries strongly suggested that a criminal act had taken place.
“I have been with Hvaldimir for the past five years and know him very well,” OneWhale founder Regina Hough said in a statement. “When I saw his body and the multiple injuries, I knew immediately that he had been shot dead. I also saw a bullet in his body.”
“There is no question that this type of, gentle animal was senselessly killed,” Hogg added. “We will pursue justice for Hvaldimir and hope that someone comes forward with information about his murder.”
Siri Martinson, a veterinarian and Noah’s leader, added that Hvaldimir’s injuries were “worrisome and of a nature that does not rule out a criminal act.”
“[I]It’s shocking,” Martinsen said. “Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police get involved quickly. Hvaldimir was important to many people and all the facts about his death should be brought to light.
Anna Victoria Pyne Vinje, a marine biologist with OneWhale, said it was “very concerning” that the whales were “deliberately killed”.
“Similarly concerning is the spread of misinformation by those claiming scientific authority, suggesting that the whale could have died of natural causes or that seabirds could have inflicted such severe wounds within an hour of its death,” Vinje says, citing some preliminary data. mentions. Reports of Hvaldimir’s death. “These statements lack scientific credibility and risk misleading the public.”
However, not everyone is yet convinced that foul play was responsible for Havaldimir’s death.
Marine Mind, another nonprofit that worked to monitor whales, released it own statement Caution against jumping to conclusions.
“The Veterinary Institute has not yet released the results of its investigation,” the statement read. “When we received Havaldimir on Saturday, it was not possible to immediately determine the cause of death, and therefore it is important to refrain from speculation until the organization has completed its work. Until then, we hope people stick to established facts.”
“We do not wish to contribute to public speculation, but we are providing direct assistance with what we can offer to those working to determine the cause of Hvaldimir’s death,” the statement continued. “Until the cause of death is established by those responsible for the investigation, provisional assumptions will not be useful for anything other than publicity.”
Belugas usually travel in groups and are found in Arctic waters, making Hvaldimir’s solitary appearance somewhat unusual. Some experts have speculated that they may have been domesticated at some point in their lives because of their comfort with humans. Viral videos captured Hvaldimir’s apparently friendly interactions with people, including Get playing and retrieving a Kayaker’s falling camera.
NOAH and OneWhale were advocating for Hvaldimir to be relocated to northern Norway for his own protection and to live closer to other belugas.
“There were many obstacles that prevented its early adoption, including bureaucratic processes, poorly defined laws, misinformation and, unfortunately, attempts by other organizations to block its adoption,” OneWhale founder Hogg said in a press release.
“Despite this, we were very close to finally getting Hvaldimir to safety and giving him a chance at a sustainable future,” Hauge added. “Our worst fears came true when his young life was cut short. We hope that the tragedy of Hvaldimir will be a lesson and will never be repeated.
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