All eyes were on the water as her iPhone slid out from her pocket. She frantically grasped at the air as her fingers brushed infuriatingly on its smooth exterior – but she was just a second too late. The still-lit home screen’s light sank beneath the water’s surface, growing smaller and smaller until it was gone forever. Inge’s heart sank with it as she unthinkingly leaned dangerously close to the waves. Just then, a ghostly white shape began to emerge from the depths, and it was heading straight for her. All eyes were on the water as her iPhone slid out from her pocket.
She frantically grasped at the air as her fingers brushed infuriatingly on its smooth exterior – but she was just a second too late. The still-lit home screen’s light sank beneath the water’s surface, growing smaller and smaller until it was gone forever. Inge’s heart sank with it as she unthinkingly leaned dangerously close to the waves. Just then, a ghostly white shape began to emerge from the depths, and it was heading straight for her.
When rumors of a mysterious creature harassing the boats of fishermen began to surface, thousands of people flocked to get a glimpse of the enigmatic animal. But when the sightings started to spread to her home city, Inga Mansika knew she had to see it for herself. Little did she know, the encounter would prove to be one that she would never forget. Meanwhile, Joar Hesten was about to report a sighting that would send a shockwave through the sleepy fishing town. When rumors of a mysterious creature harassing the boats of fishermen began to surface, thousands of people flocked to get a glimpse of the enigmatic animal.
But when the sightings started to spread to her home city, Inga Mansika knew she had to see it for herself. Little did she know, the encounter would prove to be one that she would never forget. Meanwhile, Joar Hesten was about to report a sighting that would send a shockwave through the sleepy fishing town.
It was a warm April’s day, and Joar was taking full advantage of the good weather. The Norwegian coast is a haven for mackerel, herring, and cod; so naturally, fishing had been Joar’s – and the town’s -- lifeblood for generations. Now, it was up to him to continue the family business. Joar and his crew were pulling in the day’s haul when he spotted the white whale in the distance – not an uncommon sight in these waters. But it was only when the animal drew closer that a chill went down his spine. It was a warm April’s day, and Joar was taking full advantage of the good weather.
The Norwegian coast is a haven for mackerel, herring, and cod; so naturally, fishing had been Joar’s – and the town’s -- lifeblood for generations. Now, it was up to him to continue the family business. Joar and his crew were pulling in the day’s haul when he spotted the white whale in the distance – not an uncommon sight in these waters. But it was only when the animal drew closer that a chill went down his spine.
Beluga whales were a common tourist attraction in these parts, but Joar had never seen one swimming alone before. He watched the spectral creature appearing and disappearing underneath the boat, but then it did something astonishing. Gripping the ropes dangling from the side of the boat in its teeth, it began to pull. With a clear view of the creature’s body, Joar noticed something strange. Beluga whales were a common tourist attraction in these parts, but Joar had never seen one swimming alone before.
He watched the spectral creature appearing and disappearing underneath the boat, but then it did something astonishing. Gripping the ropes dangling from the side of the boat in its teeth, it began to pull. With a clear view of the creature’s body, Joar noticed something strange.
There was something wrapped tightly around the whale’s head and belly. Joar leaned over the boat’s side to get a closer look. When he realized what it was, the answer only led to more questions. Joar, remembering his dogs back at home, knew what it was immediately. He had seen harnesses before. But why on earth would there be a harness on a wild whale in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Soon, the town of Hammerfest would be demanding an answer. There was something wrapped tightly around the whale’s head and belly.
Joar leaned over the boat’s side to get a closer look. When he realized what it was, the answer only led to more questions. Joar, remembering his dogs back at home, knew what it was immediately. He had seen harnesses before. But why on earth would there be a harness on a wild whale in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Soon, the town of Hammerfest would be demanding an answer.
The whale continued to pull at the gear on the side of the boat, and Joar decided that he had seen enough. Without another minute’s hesitation, he leaped into the freezing water. Expecting the whale to be scared off, he was floored when the whale, undeterred, approached him head-on. Joar quickly slipped his hands underneath the whale’s belly to unfasten the harness and wasted no time clambering back up into the boat. But what he held in his hands was only the first piece of the puzzle. The whale continued to pull at the gear on the side of the boat, and Joar decided that he had seen enough.
Without another minute’s hesitation, he leaped into the freezing water. Expecting the whale to be scared off, he was floored when the whale, undeterred, approached him head-on. Joar quickly slipped his hands underneath the whale’s belly to unfasten the harness and wasted no time clambering back up into the boat. But what he held in his hands was only the first piece of the puzzle.
The grey fitted harness had the words "Equipment of St. Petersburg" printed on its label, but that wasn’t the strangest part of Joar’s discovery. The harness was also equipped with a mount. What had the creature been carrying? And for what purpose? Suddenly, the realization hit the fishermen like a ton of bricks. Joar knew he had to report his suspicious finding to the authorities. The grey fitted harness had the words "Equipment of St.
Petersburg" printed on its label, but that wasn’t the strangest part of Joar’s discovery. The harness was also equipped with a mount. What had the creature been carrying? And for what purpose? Suddenly, the realization hit the fishermen like a ton of bricks. Joar knew he had to report his suspicious finding to the authorities.
The media quickly caught wind of the story and the fishing town, also known as the Kola Peninsula for Russian Military bases, was shaken to its core as the speculations began to fly. It wasn’t long before the news had reached Norwegian military officials, and they too showed a great interest in the mysterious white whale – with good reason. The media quickly caught wind of the story and the fishing town, also known as the Kola Peninsula for Russian Military bases, was shaken to its core as the speculations began to fly. It wasn’t long before the news had reached Norwegian military officials, and they too showed a great interest in the mysterious white whale – with good reason.
The whale had clearly become accustomed to human contact. Sightings flooded in from other fishing boats, but still, the mystery remained. Until one man looked hard at all the evidence. Belugas are well known as reclusive species, but this whale was clearly seeking out fishing boats and human contact. Many experts reached the same conclusion: this particular whale had been trained. Then, there was the strange matter of the harness. One beluga whale specialist voiced everyone’s darkest suspicions. The whale had clearly become accustomed to human contact.
Sightings flooded in from other fishing boats, but still, the mystery remained. Until one man looked hard at all the evidence. Belugas are well known as reclusive species, but this whale was clearly seeking out fishing boats and human contact. Many experts reached the same conclusion: this particular whale had been trained. Then, there was the strange matter of the harness. One beluga whale specialist voiced everyone’s darkest suspicions.
Dmitry Glazov, deputy head of a beluga whale program at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences, had a wild theory. He believes that the mount on the harness was designed to hold a camera. But why would the Russian navy use a beluga whale for special operations? And just what was it capable of? Dmitry Glazov, deputy head of a beluga whale program at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences, had a wild theory. He believes that the mount on the harness was designed to hold a camera.
But why would the Russian navy use a beluga whale for special operations? And just what was it capable of?
It may seem far-fetched that the whale is part of a covert Russian naval program, but it wouldn’t be the first time marine animals have been enlisted for military assistance. One such beluga whale was spotted as recently as the 1990s, and it had somehow managed to reach The Black Sea. "It was tame, it would come to us and you could give him fish and pat him on the head," explained Pierre Béland, a research scientist in marine biology. It may seem far-fetched that the whale is part of a covert Russian naval program, but it wouldn’t be the first time marine animals have been enlisted for military assistance. One such beluga whale was spotted as recently as the 1990s, and it had somehow managed to reach The Black Sea.
"It was tame, it would come to us and you could give him fish and pat him on the head," explained Pierre Béland, a research scientist in marine biology.
"It turned out [the beluga] was coming from a naval facility on the Russian side in the Crimea," Pierre said. But there was something curious about the whale – its teeth had been filed flat. "We surmised they had filed its teeth so it could take a big object in its mouth, such as a magnetic mine that it could stick on the hull of a foreign ship for military purposes." "It turned out [the beluga] was coming from a naval facility on the Russian side in the Crimea," Pierre said.
But there was something curious about the whale – its teeth had been filed flat. "We surmised they had filed its teeth so it could take a big object in its mouth, such as a magnetic mine that it could stick on the hull of a foreign ship for military purposes."
Beluga whales are highly intelligent animals. They are highly trainable and tend to react calmly in stressful situations. Evidence was mounting that this whale was no ordinary whale – it was a Russian spy. Professor Audun Rikardsen from the Arctic University of Norway said he thought the Russian Navy in the nearby city of Murmansk was involved. Meanwhile, people flocked to see the unusually friendly animal. But one particular encounter made the runaway spy an instant celebrity. Beluga whales are highly intelligent animals.
They are highly trainable and tend to react calmly in stressful situations. Evidence was mounting that this whale was no ordinary whale – it was a Russian spy. Professor Audun Rikardsen from the Arctic University of Norway said he thought the Russian Navy in the nearby city of Murmansk was involved. Meanwhile, people flocked to see the unusually friendly animal. But one particular encounter made the runaway spy an instant celebrity.
Inga Mansika, a Hammerfest native, was intrigued by the mysterious animal. By now, he had even been given a name: Hvaldimir – after Vladimir Putin and the Norwegian word “hval,” meaning "whale”. So when Inga heard that he had been spotted near the docks, she knew she couldn’t miss the opportunity to meet the notorious “Russian spy” in person. Inga Mansika, a Hammerfest native, was intrigued by the mysterious animal.
By now, he had even been given a name: Hvaldimir – after Vladimir Putin and the Norwegian word “hval,” meaning "whale”. So when Inga heard that he had been spotted near the docks, she knew she couldn’t miss the opportunity to meet the notorious “Russian spy” in person.
With a group of friends eagerly waiting for the whale’s arrival, Inga leaned in a little too close to the water. To her dismay, her iPhone fell out of her jacket pocket and into the ocean. One maddening second too late, she reached out to grab it -- only to feel it slipping from her fingers. Then, something extraordinary happened. With a group of friends eagerly waiting for the whale’s arrival, Inga leaned in a little too close to the water.
To her dismay, her iPhone fell out of her jacket pocket and into the ocean. One maddening second too late, she reached out to grab it -- only to feel it slipping from her fingers. Then, something extraordinary happened.
A white shape appeared, deep below the waves. She watched the figure grow closer until it reached where her hand had been just moments earlier. Hvaldimir the whale had finally arrived, and he was about to make a grand entrance. “Everyone was so surprised. We almost didn’t believe what we saw,” Inga recalls. Luckily, her friend managed to capture the amazing moment as it unfolded on her phone’s camera. A white shape appeared, deep below the waves.
She watched the figure grow closer until it reached where her hand had been just moments earlier. Hvaldimir the whale had finally arrived, and he was about to make a grand entrance. “Everyone was so surprised. We almost didn’t believe what we saw,” Inga recalls. Luckily, her friend managed to capture the amazing moment as it unfolded on her phone’s camera.
"We laid down on the dock to look at it and hopefully get the chance to pat it," Inga explained in an interview. "I had forgotten to close my jacket pocket and my phone fell in the ocean. We assumed it would be gone forever, until the whale came a few moments later with my phone in its mouth!" Inga’s friend posted the video of the incredible encounter and, unsurprisingly, it went viral. "We laid down on the dock to look at it and hopefully get the chance to pat it," Inga explained in an interview.
"I had forgotten to close my jacket pocket and my phone fell in the ocean. We assumed it would be gone forever, until the whale came a few moments later with my phone in its mouth!" Inga’s friend posted the video of the incredible encounter and, unsurprisingly, it went viral.
Since Inga’s surprising encounter, the video of Hvaldimir returning her sodden phone to her has received over 50,000 likes on Instagram. Unfortunately, the iPhone was beyond repair due to water damage. Nevertheless, Inga was ecstatic to have it back. “I was super happy and thankful that I got my phone back,” she said, laughing. But what does this celebrity whale’s future hold? Since Inga’s surprising encounter, the video of Hvaldimir returning her sodden phone to her has received over 50,000 likes on Instagram.
Unfortunately, the iPhone was beyond repair due to water damage. Nevertheless, Inga was ecstatic to have it back. “I was super happy and thankful that I got my phone back,” she said, laughing. But what does this celebrity whale’s future hold?
"The concern is ... what do we do with it? Because it's 'ours' now," said a senior officer with the Royal Norwegian Navy. Professor Audun Rikardsen voiced his concerns, too. "This is a tame animal that is used to get food served, so that is why it has made contacts with the fishermen," he said. "The question is now whether it can survive by finding food by itself. We have seen cases where other whales that have been in Russian captivity are doing fine." "The concern is ...
what do we do with it? Because it's 'ours' now," said a senior officer with the Royal Norwegian Navy. Professor Audun Rikardsen voiced his concerns, too. "This is a tame animal that is used to get food served, so that is why it has made contacts with the fishermen," he said. "The question is now whether it can survive by finding food by itself. We have seen cases where other whales that have been in Russian captivity are doing fine."
Hvaldimir’s harness has since been handed over to Norway’s special police security agency (PST) for further investigation, and the Russian Defense Ministry has denied using the whale in any special operations. But Professor Audun Rikardsen remains convinced. “We know that in Russia they have had domestic whales in captivity and also that some of these have apparently been released. Then they often seek out boats,” he insisted. Hvaldimir’s harness has since been handed over to Norway’s special police security agency (PST) for further investigation, and the Russian Defense Ministry has denied using the whale in any special operations.
But Professor Audun Rikardsen remains convinced. “We know that in Russia they have had domestic whales in captivity and also that some of these have apparently been released. Then they often seek out boats,” he insisted.