a.m.

"Microbial Rainbow" (detail), Tal Danino, 2018

He showed up in Norway in April 2019 wearing a camera harness labeled "equipment of St. Petersburg", has tried pulling ropes on boats, is obviously very familiar with people and prefers to hang with people. While we know Russia has marine mammal government programs (the US does too, but it's bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions), the extent of their programs is not declassified like the US Navy's are.

He likes to play fetch and be scratched around the blowhole.

He has taken a diver's knife out of the scabbard, played with underwater drones, stolen a go pro from a kayaker, and other mischief. Notably, it has been said by the Murmansk Marine Biology Institute, who may have been who trained Hvaldimir, that seals are better equipped to be polar military animals, as they have high professionalism that belugas lack.

Subtle angle differences

Some hands from a while back

don't repost. click to enlarge. reblogs appreciated 💕