Speculation rife over mysterious death of Hvaldimir, the 'Russian spy' whale

A white beluga whale nicknamed 'Hvaldimir', alleged to be a Russian spy, was found dead in Norway. According to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the whale’s carcass was found floating at Risavika Bay in southern Norway. 

The beluga whale was first spotted off Norway's coast in April 2019, wearing a harness with a mount for a camera. Suspecting to be a spy, the whale was nicknamed ‘Hvaldimir’, combining the Norwegian word ‘hval’ meaning whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name. 

The carcass was first spotted by a father and son, who were fishing along the area. The beluga was lifted out of the water using a crane and the experts have started examining the carcass. 

Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who has been tracking Hvaldimir’s adventures for about three years, said he was deeply saddened by the sudden death. Strand is part of the Norway-based Marine Mind, a non-profit organisation. 

The cause of death is unclear. 

No major external injuries were visible on the animal, Strand told NRK. 

Meanwhile, the whale's sudden death has sparked many speculations. Several social media users commented that the whale was 'deliberately killed'. 

In April 2019, the 4.2-metre (14-foot) long and 1,225-kilogram (2,700-pound) whale was first spotted by fishermen near the northern island of Ingya, not far from the Arctic city of Hammerfest. The buckle around the neck is marked with the text Equipment St. Petersburg. Since then the rumours of the whale being a spy circulated. 

Experts then pointed out that the Russian navy is known to have trained whales for military purposes.

The beluga was seen in several Norwegian coastal towns later on. 

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, NGO Marine Mind noted on their website.