Alleged Russian Spy Whale Hvaldimir Has Been Found Dead On Norway’s Coast And People Want Answers
Animal rights groups say they believe Hvaldimir was shot as he had visible wounds across his body.
Alleged Russian spy whale Hvaldimir has been found dead on Norway’s coast and people want answers.
The beluga whale was first spotted in 2019 along Norway’s northern coast, wearing a harness fitted with a GoPro labeled “Equipment of St Petersburg”.
On Aug 31, the whale was found dead on the coasts of Norway.
Animal rights groups believe that Hvaldimir was shot as he had visible wounds across his body.
The Russian navy is believed to have pursued a sea mammal special operations program for years, which the Russian Defense Ministry has denied.
The whale was then given the nickname Hvaldimir, a mix between the Norwegian word for whale, hval, and the name of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The Russian government have denied that Hvaldimir is a spy.
The whale had a unique character, seeking interactions with humans, similar to a domesticated cute whale.
Hvaldimir was believed to be between 15 to 20 years old and lived a healthy life, not carrying any diseases before his death.
Since his death, animal rights groups have been asking for a criminal investigation into his death.