Hvaldimir Has Been Found Dead
31Aug
Updated 10/6/24: Final autopsy report is ready.
The beluga whale Hvaldimir was found dead on Saturday 31 August. On behalf of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, the Veterinary Institute began the autopsy of the whale. At the same time, contact was established with the police, and it was agreed that the police should be notified if the autopsy showed any suspicious findings. Shortly after, the police received a report from NOAH and OneWhale, who suspected that the beluga Hvaldimir had been illegally shot.
The final autopsy report from the Veterinary Institute is now ready.
– The Veterinary Institute’s investigations are made difficult by the fact that many of the whale’s organs were rotten. The report concludes that the probable cause of death is a bacterial infection – possibly as a result of a wound in the mouth from a stuck stick. The stick may also have led to Hvaldimir having problems absorbing nutrients, thereby increasing the risk of infection. There have been no findings from the autopsy that indicate that the whale has been shot, says Amund Preede Revheim, head of the North Sea and environment section in the Sør-West police district.
The background for the report to the police was photos of damage to the dead whale. A thorough examination of the whale has been carried out. As pictures in the media have previously shown, several superficial wounds were found in the skin in the areas of the rear chest cavity, abdomen, one forward crank and at the tail fin. The wound edges on these were uneven and torn, and they are interpreted as injuries caused by birds pecking holes in the skin. On the underside of the whale there were two holes in the skin. The one wound went through the skin and the entire blubber layer, but did not affect internal organs. The wound channel from the second hole was less than 1 cm deep. Assessments made by the Veterinary Institute and the police’s forensic technicians are that these are not gunshot wounds. An X-ray of the chest and head was carried out without projectiles or other metal fragments being detected.
– There is nothing in the investigations to indicate that Hvaldimir was killed illegally. The police therefore see no reason to start an investigation into the whale’s death, and the report received has been dismissed, says Preede Revheim.
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Updated 9/9/24: We have received notification that the preliminary necropsy findings for Hvaldimir have been released.
Preliminary results from the veterinary report conclude that he had a stick lodged in his mouth/throat, potentially preventing him from ingesting food. This seems supported by their finding that his stomach was empty at the time of discovery and his internal organs were degraded. No evidence of a bullet or corresponding internal injury has been found.
We are aware that extensive samples have been taken and sent for further analysis and we anticipate that the laboratory and histopathology results will help identify all the factors that contributed to his death.
We feel profound sorrow for the death of Hvaldimir. His charismatic personality and journey captivated so many people, not only in Norway but internationally. He brought a positive change in attitude, empathy and concern for the welfare of beluga whales as well as other marine mammals.
Hvaldimir provided us with a unique glimpse into the mind of another intelligent species. We will honour his legacy by continuing the work that he inspired us to do. Marine Mind will continue to share the knowledge gathered over the years by educating about Hvaldimir, the role of marine mammals play in nature and the importance of protecting them and their habitats.
We thank the Norwegian Veterinary Institute for treating Hvaldimir with dignity and respect.
Their extensive efforts and expertise in conducting the necropsy and preparing this report were vital.
We also acknowledge and thank the Sør-Vest Police District for their time investigating the circumstances of Hvaldimir’s death and we appreciate their professionalism.
Hvaldimir will not be forgotten.
Source: Sebastian Strand, Founder and CEO of Marine Mind
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Dolphin Project can report that Hvaldimir, the friendly beluga whale well-known and loved by locals has been found dead in Rogaland, in western Norway.
Biologist Sebastian Strand of Marine Mind, who has worked with the whale for a number of years, confirmed to us that Hvaldimir was spotted alive at 12:00 noon Norwegian time, however some time after, the friendly beluga was seen floating on the surface of the water — dead.
The whale was first seen in April 2019 in northern Norway. He was wearing a tight harness, but local fishermen were able to remove it before it caused him any problems. They immediately noticed its inscription: “Equipment of St. Petersburg.” This set off speculation that he might be a trained Russian whale spy that had somehow managed to escape his human captors.
Helene O’Barry with Hvaldimir, the beluga whale. Credit: Ric O’Barry
Since 2020, Dolphin Project had been attempting to find a solution for Hvaldimir, in order to ensure his safety. Early on, there were several threats to Hvaldimir’s well-being, including commercial fishing nets, fish farming, and boat propellers.
Earlier this month, Dolphin Project learned that plans had been put in motion by OneWhale filmmaker to capture Hvaldimir and transport him to northern Norway, close to the Russian border. Ric O’Barry, Founder/Director of Dolphin Project wrote a strongly-worded blog, pleading for these plans to be reconsidered. Several researchers had also been critical of this decision, with over 70 professionals sending complaints to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, arguing that the move would be risky for the welfare of the whale.
“Hvaldimir swam into the largest whaling nation in the world, and his life was in danger from that moment on. The government of Norway never offered him any protection, and neither did Prince Haakon who was contacted by many of our supporters with an urgent appeal to act. Authorities left that role up to a few dedicated teams of volunteers. The only action Norwegian authorities took was to issue a permit to capture Hvaldimir and take him dangerously close to the Russian border, where he would most likely never be seen again. I believe they just wanted to get rid of him and not have to even think about him. Out of sight, out of mind. The Norwegian people, however, fell in love with this friendly whale, and many told us they had stopped eating whale meat because of him. He was bringing attention to Norwegian whaling, and this is the real reason why authorities refused to help him. Personally, I think they wanted him gone.” ~ Ric O’Barry
While it’s too early to determine the cause of Hvaldimir’s passing, much more could have been done to protect his safety. And now, it’s too late.
Featured image: Hvaldimir swimming amongst fishing boats, Norway. Credit: Ric O’Barry
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