OneWhale Mission & Positioning

At OneWhale, our mission is to protect Hvaldimir, while we advocate for his future in the wild with other belugas, so that he is no longer lost and alone.  Our efforts also include co-founding the Norwegian Whale Reserve, with the vision to free other whales from captivity and provide them a natural safe haven in the arctic.

OneWhale, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded to safeguard and advocate for Hvaldimir, a beluga with a captive past who sought human companionship as he navigated Norway's fjords, busy harbors, and fish farms. Over time, we've witnessed his journey toward greater independence, and time is still of the essence.

OneWhale and Team Hvaldimir work closely with key partners like NOAH to inform the Norwegian authorities of his situation, keeping them up to date on his movements and behaviors.

These relationships aim to positively influence decisions for his future. 

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Over the last four years, OneWhale has regularly and consistently accompanied Hvaldimir in Norway and tracked his journeys to Sweden and back. We've observed gradual changes in his behavior, culminating in a more noticeable transformation during the summer of 2023, where he displayed greater independence and a reduced reliance on human interaction.

Recent changes in Hvaldimir's behavior have led to a shift in Team Hvaldimir's on-the-ground focus and duties, aligning with Hvaldimir's evolving needs. This shift has also prompted a change in our organization's approach to advocating for Hvaldimir's future.

We have always held the goal that one day Hvaldimir could be rehabilitated to a point where he was ready for introduction to a wild beluga population. We are learning that Hvaldimir’s situation is ever-evolving and therefore his needs are changing too. OneWhale has witnessed Hvaldimir become more independent and adapt to his life roaming the Norwegian fjords and coastline.