It’s not that unusual to see a Beluga whale in certain Norwegian waters, but it’s completely out-of-the-norm to see one wearing a harness labeled “Property of St. Petersburg.” But that’s exactly what happened last week when one of the cheery-looking white whales visited a Norwegian fishing vessel.
The video of the interaction with the whale quickly went viral. Now, the whale seemingly refuses to leave.
It’s unusual for belugas to seek out humans and enjoy their attention, and the whale seems to be sticking around, so Norwegian officials believe the whale is trained as a spy, citing that the harness, which officials have since removed, can be used to attach cameras and other spy-related gear.
This article from the Washington Post has more on the situation.
