Enigmatic Beluga whale off Norway so tame people can pet it

[Judi Lynn]

Jan M. Olsen, Associated Press Updated 1:04 pm CDT, Tuesday, April 30, 2019



Photo: Linn Saether, AP
In this photo taken on Monday, April 29, 2019, Linn Saether poses with a beluga whale, days after a fisherman removed a harness with a mount for camera from the mammal, in Tufjord, Norway. A beluga whale found in Arctic Norway with a tight harness that is believed to have links to a military facility in Russia is so tame that it allows locals to pet the mammal on its nose, resident Linn Saether said Tuesday. The white whale has been frolicking in the frigid harbor of Tufjord, a hamlet near Norway's northernmost point, and has become a local attraction. (Linn Saether via AP)


COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A beluga whale found in Arctic Norway wearing a harness that suggests links to a military facility in Russia is so tame that residents can pet the mammal on its nose.

The white whale found frolicking in the frigid harbor of Tufjord, a hamlet near Norway's northernmost point, has become "a huge attraction" for locals, one resident said Tuesday. The whale is so comfortable with people that it swims to the dock and retrieves plastic rings thrown into the sea.

"The whale is so tame that when you call it, it comes to you," said Linn Saether, adding the whale also reacts to yells and when humans splash their hands in the water.

She said when she throws out a plastic ring, the Beluga whale brings it back to her as she sits on the dock.

https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Enigmatic-Beluga-whale-lets-people-pet-it-in-13806245.php

(Short article, no more at link.)



Wow! "Northern Lights over Tufjord, Rolvsøy, Finnmark, Norway"


Mysterious whale possibly linked to Russian military is affectionate, fetches rings for locals in Norway
APRIL 30, 2019 / 2:03 PM / CBS/AP

- short video at link -

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beluga-whale-linked-to-russian-military-is-affectionate-fetches-rings-for-locals-in-norway/

Longer article, more information:

Enigmatic Beluga Whale Off Norway Lets People Pet It
April 30, 2019 2:55 PM
Associated Press

A beluga whale wearing a Go Pro harness is seen in Norwegian waters, April 26, 2019 in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media on April 30, 2019.


COPENHAGEN, DENMARK —
A beluga whale found in Arctic Norway wearing a harness that suggests links to a military facility in Russia is so tame that residents can pet the mammal on its nose.

The white whale found frolicking in the frigid harbor of Tufjord, a hamlet near Norway's northernmost point, has become "a huge attraction" for locals, one resident said Tuesday. The whale is so comfortable with people that it swims to the dock and retrieves plastic rings thrown into the sea.

"The whale is so tame that when you call it, it comes to you," said Linn Saether, adding the whale also reacts to yells and when humans splash their hands in the water.

She said when she throws out a plastic ring, the beluga whale brings it back to her as she sits on the dock.



More:
https://www.voanews.com/a/enigmatic-beluga-whale-off-norway-lets-people-pet-it/4897970.html

[mr_lebowski]

1. While on one hand, it's super cute, on the other, I hate what Humans are doing to the wild beasts

So f***ing much.

It's like 'oh, look, we can turn them into our little slaves just by feeding them ... how great are we!?!'

They evolved over Billions of years on a world where there was no such thing as 'getting fed by other animals' ... and now we think we're superior and clever cause we've harnessed the power of buried fossil fuels and with that free energy have proceeded to take the world over entirely. Now we have TONS OF FISH to hand out to wild creatures, to get them to do our bidding.

Not a single one of us Humans could survive naked out there in the wild for more than a few months, tops ... like every other species alive ... DOES.

This article just reminds me ... people suck.

I don't mean the locals enjoying it, I mean the Russians that made this beautiful creature ... this way.

[mopinko]

2. remember the story from a couple weeks ago about the beluga jail?

russia claimed they were for the zoo trade, and it would let them loose. somehow i suspect they are still in jail.