Help me help Hvaldimir!

Hello! My name is Geneviève. I am a vet student from Canada and I aim to specialize in marine animal medicine (birds, reptiles and mammals!) I have a soft spot for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and my dream would be to one day have the knowledge necessary to help them.

 

A few days ago I got an opportunity of a lifetime, to go help a beluga named Hvaldimir in Norway. He showed up in Norway in 2019, wearing a harness and seeking interactions with humans. His origins are still unclear but he was clearly trained and probably escaped from wherever he was kept. Unfortunately he is constantly putting himself in danger and has already been injured by boat propellers, fishing hooks and various sharp objects (See picture above). He is also seen by some as a work-place hazard and environmental liability at the industrial salmon farms where he spends some of his time.

 

A team of animal care professionals and experts has been assembled (see the link below) and the ultimate goal is to find a long-term solution that is good for Hvaldimir and Norway. I had the honour to be asked to join this project at the last minute and as it is not everyday one gets to learn how to take care of a free-swimming beluga, I’ve taken this opportunity and I’m heading over to help protect Hvaldimir!

 

However, although the OneWhale project is doing their own fund-raising to help protect Hvaldimir, they are covering costs for items like boat hire and are unable to pay for my airplane ticket. Therefore, I’ve had to pay for it out of my own (student) pocket. Although this is an amazing opportunity, it is an unpaid position. So, along with the cost of the airfare, I am also donating my time over the Christmas period and as a student doing an intense veterinarian study program , I am currently unable to work to raise these funds..

 

The cost of the airplane tickets from Canada to my final destination in Norway is CAD$ 2,394.

 

 

If you are an animal lover and can help with a donation towards my airfares, that would be so very welcome. I will be thinking of you on Christmas Day and who knows, you may even get a special Christmas photo of Hvaldimir. Please be assured that the money raised will go to pay for the flight, however, if I raise more than the cost of the ticket, then I will be using those extra donations to cover food costs. Thank you so much for your generosity and Seasons Greetings! :)

 

For more information on Hvaldimir: https://www.onewhale.org/

Photo credits: Dr. Ingrid Visser