THE world’s first open-water whale sanctuary may become a reality in the Norwegian fjords, under a fundraising plan inspired by a beluga whale which some have suggested could be a Russian spy. The creature, who has been named Hvaldimir, created a media sensation when it was found near the remote...
THE world’s first open-water whale sanctuary may become a reality in the Norwegian fjords, under a fundraising plan inspired by a beluga whale which some have suggested could be a Russian spy.
The creature, who has been named Hvaldimir, created a media sensation when it was found near the remote fishing village of Inga in Apr 2019 wearing a harness labelled “equipment of St Petersburg”.
The equipment, as well as the whale’s sociable interactions with humans, hint that he has been trained by people – perhaps for nefarious purposes, some suggest – and he became a pest by hanging around salmon farms and annoying fishermen.
However a British businessman has now become so touched by his story he’s trying to create a 200-hectare reserve under a newly created charity called OneWhale, which is funding Hvaldimir’s monitoring and protection.
“Everyone has fallen in love with this whale from YouTube viral videos…he has clearly been domesticated and has a wonderful personality,” Thorpe said, expressing hopes of creating a netted reserve which would protect him from boats.
“It means that he can fish for himself and live as natural a life as possible” he said.
