15 min listen
My mission to save the 'Russian spy whale'
ratings:
Length:
37 minutes
Released:
Apr 26, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Norwegian fisherman Joar Hesten was fishing for cod in the Arctic when he came across a white whale wearing a harness. He freed the mysterious beluga from the straps, and then saw the harness was labelled ‘Equipment St Petersburg’. Theories started swirling that this whale had escaped the Russian military, which has a history of training marine mammals. Now Joar is on a mission to relocate the whale, called Hvaldimir, to an area with other belugas in the hope that it can integrate into a pod and live in the wild.
The quest has cost Joar emotionally and financially. And, as Joar had previously worked as a whaler for a short time, he says his relationship with Hvaldimir has made him question the practice. In 1986 the International Whaling Commission announced a ban on commercial whaling, but Norway continues to hunt up to 500 minke whales a year - citing cultural reasons.
For now, Joar is looking for support so he can keep his promise to help save Hvaldimir.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Saskia Edwards
Picture: Joar with Hvaldimir
Credit: Aleksander Nordahl, DN/D2
The quest has cost Joar emotionally and financially. And, as Joar had previously worked as a whaler for a short time, he says his relationship with Hvaldimir has made him question the practice. In 1986 the International Whaling Commission announced a ban on commercial whaling, but Norway continues to hunt up to 500 minke whales a year - citing cultural reasons.
For now, Joar is looking for support so he can keep his promise to help save Hvaldimir.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Saskia Edwards
Picture: Joar with Hvaldimir
Credit: Aleksander Nordahl, DN/D2
Released:
Apr 26, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Inspirations: Delivering Babies Under Gunfire: Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali runs the last public hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz by Lives Less Ordinary