Summary

In 2019, a beluga whale wearing a “Equipment St Petersburg” harness appeared off Norway, sparking rumors of it being a Russian “spy whale.”

Nicknamed Hvaldimir, the social whale showed signs of prior training. Dr. Olga Shpak, a marine expert, believes Hvaldimir—formerly called Andruha—likely escaped from a Russian Arctic military base where it was trained to guard, not spy.

In September 2024, Hvaldimir was found dead, apparently from a stick lodged in its body.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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    5 days ago

    Then on September 1 2024 its body was found floating at sea, near the town of Risavika, on Norway’s south-western coast.

    Had the long arm of Putin’s Russia caught up with the reluctant beluga?

    I’m glad the BBC decided to close their article with a bit of humor about the tragic death of a poor abused animal who had a very short taste of freedom. Many guffaws are assumed to have occurred.

    • GiantChickDicks@lemmy.ml
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      5 days ago

      The entire joke is about people repeatedly being targeted and killed by Russia. It’s generally a dark joke.

    • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      In September 2024, Hvaldimir was found dead, apparently from a stick lodged in its body.

      It’s too late, they already got him. Must’ve hit a tree on the way down.

      • ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        The poor whale shot itself in the back of the head twice before jumping off the roof of a 20 storey building. As it’s tradition with those who have offended Putin.

        • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          I came to say this almost exactly word for word. 5 storey would have been enough, but hey. If you gotta make a splash, make a splash.