Science Writer Brings The True (And Tragic) Story Behind The Viral Beluga Whale Seen Playing "Fetch"

A clip first shared on November 7 that shows South African rugby fans playing "fetch" with a beluga whale was quick to capture the hearts of many, but it also raised questions and speculation about the mammal and its nature. Science writer @ferrisjabr shared some additional context and background, arguing that the whale is "likely Hvaldimir, a once captive whale who may have escaped a Russian military program."

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    That was the clip published few days ago:

    via SteveStuWill
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    via /ferrisjabr
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    Organism - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr Hvaldimir appeared in waters near Hammerfest, Norway this past spring wearing a harness reportedly labeled "Equipment of St. Petersburg," which led to speculation that he may have been trained to be a Russian spy hvaldimir-foundation.com/the-story
    via ferrisjabr
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    Text - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr Since then H. has appeared in various Northern harbors and in several viral videos and many news reports. He repeatedly approached boats, pulled a diver's knife from its scabbard, and returned an iPhone to a wo who dropped it
    via ferrisjabr
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    Text - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr Because H. has spent so much time in captivity he seems unable to join a wild pod & remains at least semi-dependent on human care. There have been disturbing reports that H. has been injured by propellors & anglers and that people have prodded & jabbed him nrk.no/finnmark/hvald...
    via ferrisjabr
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    Text - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr On Nov 7 Alon Kowen posted a video on Facebook allegedly showing South African rugby fans playing fetch w/ a beluga "close to the South Pole." Few people questioned the provenance or why there would be a beluga so far south; they inhabit the far North facebook.com/alon.kowen/vid... 7:17 PM Nov 9, 2019 Twitter Web App 799 Likes 125 Retweets
    via ferrisjabr
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    Text - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr Belugas are highly intelligent & social, but truly wild whales are not familiar w/ rugby. They don't know what to do w/ a ball if you throw it at them. The provenance of the video remains unclear. I've reached out to Kowen for more information and will update if I hear from him 7:19 PM Nov 9, 2019 Twitter Web App 1.1K Likes 157 Retweets
    via ferrisjabr
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    Text - Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr The video has now been shared & liked hundreds of thousands of times. But it's not an adorable or inspiring depiction of interspecies relations. It's a tragic story all too similar to those of Keiko & Luna, orcas whose celebrity & isolation ultimately killed them far too young 7:28 PM Nov 9, 2019 Twitter Web App 2.1K Likes 379 Retweets
    via ferrisjabr
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    Website - AMBITION @toyss Replying to @LunaScho @SteveStuWill and @BennSteil Hvaldimir Hvithval /White Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Gled deg over synet av Hvaldimir, men folg noen enkle forsiktighetsregler: Enjoy watching Hvaldimir, but please observe some basic safety precautions Ikke ta på ham eller svøm med ham Do not touch him or swim with him Hvaldimir er leken og kan ta med det han får tak i ned i sjoen. Hvis han får tak i et barn eller en voksen- vil det bli farlig. Ikke kast gjenstander
    via ferrisjabr

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