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The Spy Whale of the Arctic

A beluga whale found with a harness sparks speculation about Russian military involvement, leading to a debate about its role in a potential spy program.

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RussiaMilitaryRussia Ukraine WarInvestigationMilitary TechnologySpyWhale

Russian MilitaryBbcThe Barents ObserverNorwegian DirectoratSaint Petersburg

Dr. Olga ShpakThomas NilsenViktor Baranets

What is Dr. Shpak's theory about Hvaldimir's purpose and escape?: Dr. Olga Shpak believes Hvaldimir was trained by the Russian military to guard a naval base but escaped due to his playful nature, not for espionage.
What is the history of using marine mammals in military programs?: Both Russia and the US have used marine mammals in military programs, such as detecting mines and recovering torpedoes, dating back to the Cold War.
What was the initial discovery that sparked speculation about Hvaldimir?: Hvaldimir, a beluga whale found off the coast of Norway in 2019, had a harness with a "Saint Petersburg" label, leading to speculation of Russian military involvement.
What were the official responses from Russian authorities regarding Hvaldimir?: While a Russian military spokesperson denied Hvaldimir's connection to a training program, a retired colonel suggested that using a whale for spying would be illogical.
What evidence supports the theory of Hvaldimir's connection to a Russian naval base?: Satellite images suggest Hvaldimir may have resided at a Murmansk naval base, near pens possibly housing other belugas, supporting the theory of a military training program.

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