An alleged Russian spy whale is in Sweden — and danger. Here's why his tale matters
Hvaldimir unexpectedly headed south after several years in Norway, fueling concerns and efforts to bring him to safety. Experts say his story shines a light on how humans treat animals in general.
A beluga whale long believed to be a Russian spy has surfaced in Sweden, fueling concerns about his well-being and efforts to protect him from dangerous boat traffic.
Hvaldimir — a combination of the Norwegian word for whale (hval) and Russian President Vladimir Putin's first name — has spent the last several years swimming south down the coast of Norway, where he was first spotted by fishermen in 2019.
He had been wearing a harness labeled "Equipment St. Petersburg," which led many to believe he'd been trained by the Russian navy for intelligence purposes. (Russia and the U.S. are among the handful.)
