Ein Dahmer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A beluga whale named Hvaldimir, which gained international attention after being suspected of serving as a spy for Russia, was found dead on Saturday in southern Norway's Risavika Bay. The whale's body was discovered by a local father and son while they were out fishing, according to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
Hvaldimir, a name derived from the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was first spotted in April 2019 near the northern island of Ingøya. The whale was wearing a harness with what appeared to be a mount for a camera, sparking suspicions that it had been trained by the Russian military. The harness was marked with the words "Equipment St Petersburg", fueling further speculation about its origins.
The whale's sudden death has left marine experts puzzled. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who has been monitoring Hvaldimir's movements for the past three years on behalf of the Norway-based non-profit organization Marine Mind, expressed his sorrow over the loss. "Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away, but it's not immediately clear what the cause of death is", Strand said. He noted that no major external injuries were visible on the whale, which was 4.2 meters (14 feet) long and weighed 1,225 kilograms (2,700 pounds).
Hvaldimir quickly became a well-known figure along the Norwegian coast, charming locals with his playful behavior and apparent fondness for human interaction. Over the years, he was spotted in the waters off several coastal towns, where he demonstrated an unusual level of tameness. According to Marine Mind, the whale seemed to respond to hand signals, further suggesting that he had been trained in captivity.
Speculation about Hvaldimir's past has ranged from theories that he was a Russian spy whale to the possibility that he had been used as a therapy animal in Russia. Despite the controversy surrounding his origins, Hvaldimir was beloved by those who encountered him.
The whale's body has been taken to a nearby harbor, where experts will conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of death.
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