In a recent incident in Norway, a beluga whale named “Hvaldimir” was discovered dead near Russian waters, sparking suspicions that the whale may have been involved in espionage activities for Russia.
According to reports from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK, the carcass of this whale was found by a father-son duo who were fishing in Risavika Bay in southern Norway on Saturday, August 30.
The name of this beluga whale, “Hvaldimir,” is a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” and the Russian name “Vladimir,” which is also the first name of Vladimir Putin. A crane was used to lift the beluga whale out of the water, and it was subsequently taken to a nearby port for examination by experts.
“Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating on the surface of the sea, it was already dead, and at the moment, the cause of its death is not clear,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK, adding that the whale did not show any obvious signs of trauma.
“This is truly tragic,” said Strand. “As of last Friday, it seemed to be in good condition, so we need to figure out what happened here.”
This beluga whale measured 4.2 meters (14 feet) in length and weighed 1,225 kilograms (2,700 pounds). In 2019, when Hvaldimir was first sighted, it was observed wearing a harness with what appeared to be a small camera mount. Its initial appearance was near the island of Ingoya in northern Norway, about 300 kilometers (190 miles) from the Russian maritime border. The harness was labeled with the words “Equipment St Petersburg” in English.
These observations have led to accusations that the beluga whale was a “spy whale.” Experts noted that it is widely known that the Russian Navy has trained marine animals for military purposes.
Over the years, Hvaldimir has been spotted in several coastal towns in Norway, where it quickly became known for its gentle demeanor and its enjoyment of interacting with people.
The non-governmental organization Marine Mind stated on its website that the whale showed a great interest in humans and was able to respond to human gestures. Consequently, Norwegian intelligence agencies speculated that prior to entering Norwegian waters, the beluga whale had been held captive in Russia as part of a research project.
“Based on these observations, Hvaldimir seemed to have crossed over from Russian waters, indicating it may have been previously held in Russia,” the Marine Mind website said.
Norwegian media have speculated whether Hvaldimir may have been utilized in Russia as a form of “therapy whale.”
Russian authorities have not responded to the espionage allegations surrounding Hvaldimir.
(This article references reports from Reuters and the Associated Press)