HVALDIMIR’S
STORY

Hvaldimir is a young male beluga whale who arrived in Norway wearing a harness in April of 2019. Upon his arrival, it was clear he was a trained whale accustomed to interacting with humans.

Locals affectionately named him Hvaldimir, and his presence captured the hearts of many.

However, what became evident was his displacement from his natural environment and his own kind. Hvaldimir's presence posed unique challenges, particularly as he spent significant time at bustling industrial salmon farms, raising concerns for both his safety and the environment.

In addition to being displaced, Hvaldimir's journey has been fraught with challenges.

The fjords and coastlines where he roams have witnessed a surge in unregulated tourism, with visitors drawn by the allure of this remarkable beluga. This tourism has often placed him in dangerous situations, leading to injuries from boat propellers, sharp objects, and fishing hooks.

At OneWhale, our goal has been clear from the start:

To protect Hvaldimir, while we advocate for his future in the wild with other belugas, so that he is no longer lost and alone.

Over the years, we've watched him adapt and evolve in the waters of Norway. It is our profound belief that he deserves the chance to live with his own kind, away from the disruptions of crowded harbors, tourism and industry.

Our mission remains unwavering.

Hvaldimir is displaced from his natural habitat, as a result of human actions.

We stand for his future, alongside other belugas in the wild.

A WHALE IN SERIOUS DANGER.

Hvaldimir is technically a “free” whale. He hunts fish and eats on his own, is no longer dependent on humans, and has done an amazing job surviving. However, Hvaldimir is not safe.
Unfortunately, he is still in serious danger due to his surroundings. He is lonely and has no other whales for company, so he seeks the company of humans. This poses a danger not only to Hvaldimir but also to the humans who try to swim and interact with him.
In summer of 2021 he was critically injured, resulting in a serious wound, possibly caused by a boat or fishing equipment.
FISH FARMS

Norway’s largest export is salmon, and the fjords are full of high-tech farms, each holding millions of salmon. These farms are attractive to Hvaldimir and so he pesters the workers to interact with him.
The salmon farms are reporting him to be a problem because he is disrupting their work, sometimes he pesters the workers to interact with him and is getting in the way of boats and machinery. It is possible that Hvaldimir could be caught in a boat prop or harmed in other ways by being near fish farms, or increase the chances he will be seen as a nuisance..
BOAT PROPELLERS

We have documented up to 300 people a day seeking out Hvaldimir by tour boat, private boat, and jet ski. Hvaldimir has been hit by propellers in the past and he has continued to come up to boats within inches of the propellers, even when they are running. Hvaldimir does not understand the danger of boats and humans. He does not avoid them as a wild whale would. In fact, he has been taught by his former captors to do the opposite.
CAPTIVITY

During our team’s time in Norway, there have been proposals of Hvaldimir going into a zoological centre (a tank) to be “cared” for and “protected”. We believe that a tank is not the place for this whale or any marine mammal for that matter.
COMMERCIAL FISHING

There is heavy fishing practiced in these fjords, with large commercial nets. The nets go down and are left unattended for the day.
Hvaldimir could get caught in the fishing nets, and because he can only hold his breath for approximately twenty minutes, he will drown. What’s more, sometimes the only option for the fisherman to release a whale is to cut off their fin. This usually results in the whale bleeding to death in the water.