The beluga whale Hvaldimir first made headlines in 2019 and has since appeared in the media regularly.
On Saturday 31 August, Hvaldimir was found dead. There was a lot of speculation and rumours about the cause of death. After an autopsy conducted by the Veterinary Institute, it was determined that Hvaldimir died from a 35 cm long stick that was lodged in his mouth, preventing him from eating.
Hvaldimir donated to the Natural History Museum
The Veterinary Institute issued the following press release on 10 September 2024 (in Norwegian).
"Normally, any remains from autopsies performed by the Veterinary Institute are disposed of. In this case, however, the Directorate of Fisheries has authorised the transfer of the remains to a scientific institution. The case has generated significant public interest, and the Directorate of Fisheries acknowledges that preserving the remains for future generations is in the public's interest."
We, the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden at the University of Agder, are honoured to be the scientific institution selected to receive Hvaldimir.
Disseminating Hvaldimir's story
As acknowledged by the Directorate of Fisheries, Hvaldimir has sparked significant public interest. Therefore, we are excited to share Hvaldimir's story with the public.
We are working in collaboration with several partners to ensure that the careful preparation and presentation of Hvaldimir is carried out with respect and that it benefits society by serving scientific, historical and cultural purposes.
Preparing and assembling the skeleton takes time, and our aim is to exhibit Hvaldimir and artifacts related to his story by 2025.
Help from the public
We are asking for help from the public in this endeavour. We would like to receive pictures and videos of Hvaldimir, along with the date and exact location where they were taken. All media formats are welcome, and high image quality is not required. These will be uploaded to a new database, collecting and storing tracking data (MoMu - Movebank Life History Museum), used for research purposes. The tracking data about Hvaldimir will also be used to tell his story.
By submitting pictures/videos, you give consent for the material to be used for communication and scientific work.
Please send pictures and videos to hvaldimir@uia.no
Contact
- rasmus.w.havmoller@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 11 91