It was revealed this week a beluga whale that died in August this year was being trained by Russia to be a spy. Hvaldimir became internationally famous in 2019 after being spotted wearing a harness that appeared to be designed to carry a camera. Fishermen in northern Norway noticed Hvaldimir in April 2019.
The whale's nickname is a combination of the Norwegian word hval (whale) and the first name of Russian president Vladimir Putin. It was obvious to the fishermen that the whale was very used to humans as he would interact with them and take fish from them. The harness Hvaldimir wore was labelled "Equipment of St Petersburg".
This led to speculation that the whale may have been trained by the Russian military as a spy. A Russian marine scientist believes that Hvaldimir was being trained to guard a Russian military naval base in the Arctic Circle, but escaped because it was a "hooligan". Animals have been used in warfare for centuries.
Horses, elephants, and dogs are some of the most well-known examples. Horses revolutionized mobility on the battlefield, while elephants were used as living tanks in ancient battles. Dogs have served as messengers, sentries, and even combatants.
Marine animals have also been considered for espionage and military purposes. The US Navy's Marine Mammal Program, which began in the 1960s, trained dolphins and sea lions for various tasks, including mine detection, equipment recovery, and harbour defence. Dolphins, with their sophisticated sonar capabi.