OneWhaleorg

Giving Hvaldimir the chance to integrate is one purpose, which is for animal welfare. He was born in the wild and even in captivity he had been with other whales his whole life. He should live another 50 years, and his best chance at a normal life is to have access to other belugas. The other animal welfare purpose is to relocate the whale out of the populated high-risk cities, where he has has had multiple life-threatening injures, to a more appropriate wild arctic habitat. Finally, there is a public safety purpose which is becoming increasingly important. Displaced out-of habitat wild animals who mix with people creates a high-risk environment, which we have seen played out over and over in Norway. (See the case of Freya the walrus). Currently, Hvaldimir is between two of Norways largest cities, and the public’s interaction with him has only intensified. This has been well documented by OneWhale, the Norwegian media and government officials. Since Hvaldimir should live another 50 years, the decision makers in Norway agree that it is better to relocate Hvaldimir while he is healthy, rather than waiting for the next crisis, when it may be too late. We applaud this landmark decision by Fiskeridirektoratet, which is both a safe and responsible decision for humans, but also a humane and kind decision for Hvaldimir.

Many are asking “When will Hvaldimir be relocated?” So we are going to provide you an ongoing timeline here of the steps, and keep you updated of the process as we assess. • June 28 - OneWhale received permits for Hvaldimir’s relocation on June 28, 2024. • July 11th - we contracted the world's foremost whale transport expert for the job, and booked his tickets to travel from the US to Norway. • July 26th - Transport expert arrived in Norway for the assessment and planning of the transport. The team traveled to Stavanger to assess and plan the airport route. Then on to Hvaldimir for observation and an in-water assessment exercise. • July 29- The team traveled to Kirkenes, Norway to assess the logistics of the travel route and visit the possible release sites for Hvaldimir. The team met with local professionals who provided information on the habits and patterns of wild beluga whales. • August 3 - The team returned from Kirkenes with added knowledge. While our hope had been to relocate Hvaldimir before mid-September, we have learned that the earliest Hvaldimir could travel would likely fall outside the window of the wild whale activity in Kirkenes. The goal is for Hvaldimir to join other belugas, and we don’t want him to miss the party! Extensive planning is involved in transporting a whale, as it is unlike any other animal transport process. As the transport expert continues to plan the operation, we will provide update as progress is made. Please know it may require months to get all the elements of the move in place, and funds must be raised for the move. We will continue to bring updates as the process evolves. As plans form, we will share details on how move will be conducted, veterinary supervision, costs and funding. Over and above any other consideration, our absolute highest priority is to make sure the relocation is safe, comfortable and successful for Hvaldimir. Follow here and watch for updates at www.OneWhale.org

RELOCATION UPDATE: Today was Day 1 working with Hvaldimir to prepare him for the journey to his new home! With a September deadline, we have no time to waste. Because of your donations, we were able to swiftly fly out one of world’s foremost whale transport experts, who has been assessing Hvaldimir and the logistics involved with the relocation. In addition, we have enlisted former Norwegian Navy Seals, the absolute best people to work in the water ensure a safe environment on move day.  We are happy to report that Hvaldimir was perfectly cooperative. He’s a good whale and we hope he will understand what is waiting for him on the other side.  🤍🤍 Thank you all for sharing his story and for your generous donations…  together we will get Hvaldimir home. 🙏

Breaking News! We have been promising an announcement… here it is! Government of Norway issues ground-breaking permit to relocate Hvaldimir near a wild pod! Thanks to all of you who have been there for Hvaldimir and have helped get us to this point. There is still so much work to be done, but for now we are going to celebrate the joy, and our renewed hope for Hvaldimir’s future! #OneWhale #beluga #Hvaldimir

Hello to Hvaldimir’s loyal human supporters! We hope you’re having a fantastic summer. Hvaldi although lonely, seems to enjoying his summer, too. He’s been active, swimming long distances across the fjord system where he’s been staying. We’ve had some important breakthroughs with the government, and we’ll be sharing more news in the coming weeks. All positive, but with forward motion comes new work to be done. We can’t thank you enough for your donations. You keep our team on the ground and our work ongoing. To become part of the POD and give monthly, head to the link in our bio. Every dollar counts. We currently have 81 pod members, with donations ranging from $2 to $200 per month. Together, you’re giving $1459 USD per month, which covers boat rental, gas, lodging, and more for our volunteers and experts. Big thanks from Hvaldimir and the OneWhale Team ♥️ {https://lnkd.in/gEJAvFkJ Video taken July 20 by an advocate for Hvaldimir #onewhale #hvaldimir #teamhvaldimir #volunteer

TODAY’S UPDATE: Hello will you PLAY with me, PLEASE?? Team Hvaldimir does their best to observe from a distance, but Hvaldimir often has other ideas. We know he gets lonely and are glad we can be there for him when he needs us. This is your friendly reminder to mix some PLAY into your weekend. 🛝🏖️

Meet Olivia: A Passionate Marine Biology Student and Volunteer with Team Hvaldimir 🐳❣️ Olivia is a first-year marine biology student at the University of Exeter, deeply passionate about marine megafauna behavior and conservation. She brings valuable animal care experience and a strong dedication to marine conservation. Olivia's love for animals sparked her interest in their behavior, which she now channels into her studies and volunteer work. Olivia is excited to contribute to Team Hvaldimir's efforts and learn more about whale conservation. 🦺 Please join me in welcoming Olivia! 🤗🙏🏼 #TeamHvaldimir #OneWhale #changemaker #volunteer #marinebiology #sciencestudent #uni

This World Ocean Day, we embrace the theme "Make Waves of Change," highlighting the power of collective action to overcome the challenges our oceans face. Hvaldimir's journey has brought us together with a shared mission: to ensure he lives the life he deserves. Our incredible community has shown up time and again, supporting our efforts and demonstrating the strength and impact of unity. As we continue discussions with Norwegian authorities, the importance of working together becomes even clearer. While Hvaldimir's future lies in Norway's hands, OneWhale and NOAH are dedicated to supporting them in making a well-informed decision that prioritizes his well-being. By uniting our efforts, we can create positive change for Hvaldimir and all marine life. Let's make waves of change today for a thriving ocean tomorrow. 🙏🏼🇳🇴 #WorldOceanDay #MakeWavesOfChange #HvaldimirJourney #OneWhale #NOAH #OceanConservation #TogetherForOurOceans #CommunityPower

We feel that protecting solitary and out of habitat marine mammals is our collective responsibility 🌊🐳 Solitary sociable and out of habitat marine mammals face unique challenges that require our attention and care. Their interactions with humans can impact their welfare, and it's crucial to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. By implementing key management responses, such as monitoring their movements, providing rescue and rehabilitation when needed, educating the public, and establishing restricted access areas, we can minimize risks and protect these extraordinary creatures. Join us in raising awareness and advocating for the well-being of solitary sociables and out of habitat marine mammals. Together, we can make a difference and ensure a harmonious coexistence with these incredible beings of the sea. 🌊🐋💙 #MarineMammals #SolitarySociable #OutofHabitat #Conservation #ProtectWildlife #Coexistence

SUMMER CREW! This will be our fifth summer with Hvaldimir and our FOURTH summer with a full time team dedicated to protecting this special whale! All of this is possible thanks to you- Hvaldimir’s human pod!  OneWhale strives to support female scientists, so this year we have selected an incredible group of young women Marine Biology interns. Meet Sophia, Hanna & Olivia. They will be out in the fjords this summer getting field experience while performing the Team Hvaldimir roles: Monitoring our beloved whale, educating the public,  providing on-call help to the salmon farms, collecting & processing data, writing reports and, of course, keeping his supporters informed! Summer can be very fast paced and challenging, so we are grateful for their efforts and excited for the summer ahead! If you would like to support with a summer donation head over to www.OneWhale.org/donate and Hvaldimir’s Norwegian friends can donate via Vipps at 857706. Thank you! 🙏🏼🇳🇴❤️