The death of a friendly beluga 'spy whale' with a mysterious past shows the complex relationship between humans and wildlife, with conservationists split on how best to protect the animal until the end.
Hvaldimir was a hit from the first time he was spotted in the wild, off the coast of Norway in April 2019.
Moscow has never shed light on Hvaldimir's past, though it's generally accepted that the whale must have previously been held in some kind of captivity.For the next few years, he'd travel the waters of the Norwegian coast, delighting people with his friendly antics playing football, cheekily harassing seagulls, and even rescuing phones that fell into the water.
Ms Haug and OneWhale also advocated for Hvaldimir to be relocated further offshore, in an area with less traffic where he might join a nearby pod of belugas. In August, Mr Strand told Yahoo News, "We fear the consequences of transport and the uncertain events that would occur." Despite the differing opinions on how best to protect Hvaldimir, his presence and popularity carried with it a tremendous message about conservation.
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