COPENHAGEN — A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. He said Monday fishermen in Arctic Norway last week reported the tame white cetacean with a tight harness swimming around. On Friday, fisherman Joar Hesten, aided by the Ree Wiig, jumped into the frigid water to remove the harness. “We were going to put out nets when we saw a whale swimming between the boats,” Hesten told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. We have seen cases where other whales that have been in Russian captivity doing fine.”Hesten told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that the whale began to rub itself again his boat when he first spotted it.

Source: National Post April 29, 2019 13:18 UTC