Summary

In 2019, a beluga whale wearing a “Equipment St Petersburg” harness appeared off Norway, sparking rumors of it being a Russian “spy whale.”

Nicknamed Hvaldimir, the social whale showed signs of prior training. Dr. Olga Shpak, a marine expert, believes Hvaldimir—formerly called Andruha—likely escaped from a Russian Arctic military base where it was trained to guard, not spy.

In September 2024, Hvaldimir was found dead, apparently from a stick lodged in its body.

  • Flying SquidM
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    301 month ago

    Then on September 1 2024 its body was found floating at sea, near the town of Risavika, on Norway’s south-western coast.

    Had the long arm of Putin’s Russia caught up with the reluctant beluga?

    I’m glad the BBC decided to close their article with a bit of humor about the tragic death of a poor abused animal who had a very short taste of freedom. Many guffaws are assumed to have occurred.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
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      121 month ago

      The entire joke is about people repeatedly being targeted and killed by Russia. It’s generally a dark joke.

      • Flying SquidM
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        -11 month ago

        I understand the joke. I just thought it was in incredibly poor taste in this context.

  • @NegativeLookBehind
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    151 month ago

    That whale better watch out, they might throw him off a balcony

    • @betterdeadthanreddit
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      221 month ago

      In September 2024, Hvaldimir was found dead, apparently from a stick lodged in its body.

      It’s too late, they already got him. Must’ve hit a tree on the way down.

      • ThePowerOfGeek
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        61 month ago

        The poor whale shot itself in the back of the head twice before jumping off the roof of a 20 storey building. As it’s tradition with those who have offended Putin.

        • @werefreeatlast
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          21 month ago

          I came to say this almost exactly word for word. 5 storey would have been enough, but hey. If you gotta make a splash, make a splash.