Famous ‘spy’ whale likes people – and that could be an issue

A photo provided by OneWhale showing Hvaldimir, a beluga whale, in the waters off Norway in April 2023. The whale seems attracted to humans, leading researchers to speculate that he once spent time in captivity. — ©2023 The New York Times Company

HVALDIMIR, a domesticated beluga whale that has been spotted in Scandinavian waters for years, was seen recently off the coast of Sweden, prompting concern among researchers who worry he could be in danger, especially if people don’t stay away from him.

The highly sociable whale first gained fame in 2019, when he showed up in northern Norway wearing a harness, embossed with “St. Petersburg equipment,” that seemed designed to hold a camera. As a result, he captured the imagination of headline writers, who labelled him a Russian spy.