According to the nonprofit that monitored the whale, it was found dead when it was discovered in Norwegian waters five years ago and was suspected of spying for Russia.
The body of Hvaldimir (a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin) was spotted drifting at sea by a father and son fishing in southern Norway last weekend, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.
“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a symbol of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond that connects humans with the natural world,” the non-governmental organization Marine Mind wrote on social media.
Hvaldimir was wearing a harness with what appeared to be a small camera attachment when he was first found in 2019 near the northern Norwegian island of Ingoya, about 300 kilometers from the Russian sea border. The harness had the words “Equipment St Petersburg” written on it in English.
The whale was very interested in humans and responded to hand signals, leading Norwegian intelligence to believe it was being held in captivity in Russia as part of a research program before it entered Norwegian waters.
Moscow has never responded to the allegations regarding Hvaldimir.
“It’s absolutely awful,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who worked with Marine Mind, told NRK. “He was apparently in good condition (on Friday), so we just need to work out what could have happened here.”
He added that the animal had no serious external injuries and the cause of its death was not yet known.
