‘Russian spy’ whale Hvaldimir found dead in Norway

The beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, whose unusual harness sparked speculation of espionage, has been found dead off the coast of Norway. Discovered floating near Risavika Bay by a father and son fishing on Saturday, the whale’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes and a thorough investigation.

Marine Mind, a nonprofit that tracked Hvaldimir, described him as “a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world” on social media. Hvaldimir, a blend of the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first name, first appeared off Norway’s northern coast in 2019.

The whale’s man-made harness, featuring a mount labeled “Equipment St Petersburg,” fueled speculation that he was a “spy whale” trained by the Russian navy. Norwegian officials suggested he might have escaped from an enclosure and been trained to interact with humans. Moscow has not addressed these claims.

Following his discovery, Hvaldimir’s carcass was retrieved using a crane and transported to a local harbor for examination. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who has followed Hvaldimir’s journey for three years, noted that no major external injuries were visible. “We’ve managed to retrieve his remains and put him in a cooled area, in preparation for a necropsy by the veterinary institute that can help determine what really happened to him,” Strand told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

Strand, visibly shaken by the news, said the whale’s sudden death was a significant loss, underscoring the enigmatic and poignant nature of Hvaldimir’s life and legacy.