The beluga whale that made headlines in 2019 when it was found wearing a harness in Norway, leading to speculation of it being a Russian navy spy, has now been spotted off the coast of Sweden. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries confirmed the sighting, with an official statement that the beluga was the first thing they saw outside their ship's window during a patrol.
Initially discovered in Norway's far northern region, the whale had been slowly making its way down the country's coastline for over three years but recently accelerated its journey, covering the remaining distance and reaching Sweden.
Meet Hvaldimir, Alleged Russian Spy in the Form of a Beluga Whale
According to Science Alert, the beluga whale was spotted off the southwestern coast of Sweden on Sunday, a significant distance from its natural environment.
Marine biologist Sebastian Strand from the OneWhale organization expressed uncertainty regarding the sudden acceleration in the whale's movement and speculated that it could be driven by hormonal changes, such as the urge to find a mate, or due to loneliness, as belugas are highly social creatures.
At an estimated age of 13 to 14 years, the whale is in a stage where hormone levels are high. However, the closest population of belugas is located in the Svalbard archipelago, far north of Norway, and Hvaldimir has not encountered any of its kind since arriving in Norway in April 2019.
The beluga whale gained the nickname "Hvaldimir" in Norway, which is a play on the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and a reference to the alleged connection to Russia. When Hvaldimir initially appeared in the Arctic region of Norway, researchers from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries removed a man-made harness attached to the whale.
Given the whale's ease around humans, the harness's clasps with the inscription "Equipment St. Petersburg" aroused concerns that it had escaped from an enclosure and maybe received instruction from the Russian navy. Moscow, on the other hand, has not formally commented to Norway's theories regarding the whale's origins or alleged espionage.
The Barents Sea, where Hvaldimir was spotted, is of strategic significance as it is monitored for submarine activities and serves as the entrance to the Northern Route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. However, there are concerns about Hvaldimir's food availability in Sweden due to observed weight loss, despite its previous ability to forage under Norway's salmon farms.
Animals in the Army
Throughout history, various animals have been involved in armed conflicts, with horses and dogs being well-known examples. However, numerous other creatures have played roles in warfare, ranging from sea lions to fleas.
As per the website of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, the military has utilized animals such as horses, mules, donkeys, camels, dogs, pigeons, dolphins, and sea lions for tasks like transportation, sentry duties, surveillance, and mine detection. The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps highlights the importance of animals in the military, providing veterinary care and expertise for all branches.
Animals have not only served as warriors and workers but have also acted as companions and mascots. These animal companions can offer soldiers a sense of normalcy and relief from the challenges and monotony of conflict.
Whether it is a dog, horse, bird, bear, or any other creature serving as a mascot or adopted as a stray, animals have the power to provide comfort, distraction, and companionship, and have even been seen as symbols of good luck in certain instances.
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