There is a beluga whale named Hvaldimir that was sighted near the North Pole. It plays fetch. Seriously.
Hvaldimir is the name of a beluga whale that has been referenced as an "escaped Russian spy whale." Right away, you've got to be skeptical. Yeah, we are too.
A crew of South African filmmakers in the process of filming a documentary was traveling the icy waters near the North Pole. They came across this startling discovery: a medium-sized beluga whale that was more than interested in a game of fetch.
Sherri-Lyn Croucamp posted the video to Facebook—though she does not take credit for it—and has since said that, in an update, "I have found out that this gorgeous whale is from near Norway and is named Hvaldimir. He has been referred to as the escaped "Russian spy whale." It is likely that Hvaldimir's training would have included being rewarded with food when retrieving objects."
So maybe there actually is some truth to the story? Others are familiar with the whale, reportedly residing near Hammerfest, a coastal area in northern Norway.
Now the concern is for a creature that may not have the capability to survive in the wild, thanks to acts by the Russian military. A friendly beluga whale isn't exactly a safe one.
You can't believe everything you see on social media, but this seems to be legit.
Here's the viral video:
Why is there a lone beluga whale playing fetch with a rugby ball in Norwegian waters?
Croucamp has stated that filmmaker Regina Crosby has been at the forefront of the Hvaldimir Foundation, working with locals and other environmentalists to secure a move of the beluga whale to a pod of wild whales where he can be safe from fishing nets and salmon farmers.
She can be contacted on Facebook or by emailing [email protected] for those that would like to offer their assistance.
Here's hoping that Hvaldimir can make it safely to the open ocean to live his life as it was meant to be.
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NEXT: EXCAVATION IN GREENLAND REVEALS STARTLING THINGS ANCIENT HUNTERS HARVESTED FROM THE SEA
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