Operation Hvaldimir

Hvaldimir is in an area that daily exposes him to danger and poor animal welfare. In addition, there is a risk of accidents involving the public. This is well documented and there are regular reports in the media that the whale travels in busy ports and/or breeding facilities. There have been several similar cases in recent times involving marine mammals, including killer whales, walruses and otters. All these cases have resulted in the animal's death. Moving the whale Hvaldimir to a safe and suitable location, is a measure to prevent this from happening again.

As part of our management, OneWhale has carefully reported to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Directorate of Fisheries. Every year we provide documented evidence of the life-threatening circumstances in which Hvaldimir lives. As you know, Hvaldimir has suffered life-threatening injuries and illnesses that do not have "natural causes." The whale's injuries have been caused by propeller hits, boat collisions, excessive tourism, or starvation due to him searching for other whales in the wrong waters, such as Oslo and Gothenburg. It is the animal keeper's duty to ensure the animal's living environment

As of today, this is not the case as the whale lives in an unsuitable and unsafe environment with many dangers. This entails a need for the proper relocation of the whale Hvaldimir to a safe and suitable habitat with other species. 

The Directorate of Fisheries has agreed that Hvaldimir should be moved to a safer, less public place. See this permit in Appendix X. They have chosen Kirkenes as the suitable white whale habitat in Norway, which gives Hvaldimir species. The Directorate of Fisheries recognizes that this relocation is in accordance with the safeguarding of good animal welfare, public safety and proper animal management of an animal that is not in its proper habitat.

YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO STOP HVALDIMIR’S RELOCATION. WE INVITE YOU TO READ OUR RESPONSE TO THE APPEAL HERE.

You can read more about Operation Hvaldimir on our FAQ page