Hvaldimir, a beluga whale wearing a harness, prompting rumors he might be a Russian spy was found dead on Saturday in Norway.
The Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported that the whale’s body was found floating in the Risavika Bay in southern Norway by a father and son who were fishing.
The beluga, whose nickname was a combination of the Norwegian word for whale – hval – and the first name of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was lifted out of the water by crane and taken to a nearby harbor, where experts will examine it.
The marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK: “Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away, but it’s not immediately clear what the cause of death is.” He added that no major external injuries were visible on the animal.
Strand, who has monitored Hvaldimir’s adventures for the past three years on behalf of the Norway-based non-profit organization Marine Mind, said he was deeply affected by the whale’s sudden death.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Strand said. “He was apparently in good condition as of [Friday], so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”
Was the beluga whale a Russian spy?
The 4.2-metre (14ft), 1,225kg (2,700lb) whale was first spotted in April 2019 by fishers near the northern island of Ingøya, not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest. He was wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera and a buckle marked with the words “Equipment St Petersburg”.
That sparked allegations the beluga was a “spy whale”. Experts have said the Russian navy is known to have trained whales for military purposes.
These marine mammals have been used in various roles, such as mine detection since their keen senses and ability to operate in cold water make them ideal for locating underwater mines.
Belugas can also be trained to retrieve lost or sunken equipment, while some believe they could be used to deter divers or swimmers from approaching naval bases.
The practice of training marine mammals for military use is not unique to Russia. The United States Navy has also conducted similar programs, primarily using dolphins and sea lions.
Over the years, the beluga was seen in the waters off several Norwegian coastal towns and it quickly became clear that he was very tame and enjoyed playing with people, NRK said.
Marine Mind said on its site that Hvaldimir was very interested in people and responded to hand signals. “Based on these observations, it appeared as if Hvaldimir arrived in Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity,” it said.
Because of this behavior, Norwegian media have also speculated that Hvaldimir may have been used as “a therapy whale” of some sort in Russia.
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