Hvaldimir the beluga whale was first seen in Norway in 2019, not far from Russian waters. The animal was wearing a kind of climbing safety harness with a camera mount. The curious fact sparked rumours that the beluga could be a Russian spy. On Saturday (31/8), father and son found the animal's body floating in Risavika Bay, in southern Norway.
The animal, which was nicknamed after a combination of the Norwegian word for whale - hval - and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was lifted out of the water by a crane and taken to a nearby harbour, where it will be examined.
Marine biologist Sebastian Strand has been monitoring the beluga whale for the last three years. ‘It's absolutely horrific,’ the biologist told The Guardian. ‘He was apparently in good condition until [Friday], so we just need to find out what might have happened here.’
According to experts, the Russian navy is known for training whales for military purposes. However, according to the non-profit organization Marine Mind, Hvaldimir was very interested in people and responded to hand signals, which is why he may have been used as a kind of ‘therapeutic whale’ in Russia, where he would have been held captive.
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