Want to Help Save the Russian Spy Whale?
Enter your info to learn more, and get this beautiful digital painting of Hvaldimir, the Russian spy beluga whale as a free gift!
THE WHALE THAT CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF THE WORLD
Hvaldimir is the world-famous ‘Russian spy’ beluga whale who arrived in northern Norway wearing a harness in April of 2019. It is believed he was in a Russian military program for close to 8 years. He is currently over 1,000 miles away from the nearest wild beluga habitat and aside from interactions with humans, he is all alone.
Hvaldimir is a trained whale who spends most of his time at busy industrial salmon farms, which poses a major problem for the salmon industry. Additionally, there has been a dramatic rise in unregulated tourism targeting Hvaldimir, which is often dangerous for him.
He has been injured by boat propellers, sharp objects and fishing hooks multiple times. Permits have been filed to have him killed.
HIS LIFE IS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY IF THIS SITUATION IS IGNORED.
OneWhale, a nonprofit organization, created TEAM HVALDIMIR to make sure he is safe and protected. Our team provides him enrichment and also educates salmon farms and tourists about his unique situation. Our team is on the ground everyday with Hvaldimir in Norway, working in very challenging conditions, all out of love for this beautiful and special whale.
Team Hvaldimir also consists of a world-class team of whale experts, scientists and advocates. We have also aligned with animal welfare organizations and the city of Hammerfest – where Hvaldimir first arrived – in a united effort to protect Hvaldimir.
Each month we incur several thousands of dollars in expenses including lodging, boat rentals, gas for boats and cars, supplies and more. We rely on the generosity of our community to keep Hvaldimir protected.