A beloved beluga whale nicknamed Hvaldimir, who became notorious after being found in 2019 with a harness that sparked rumors it might be a Russian spy whale, has been found dead, according to multiple reports.
Norwegian public broadcaster NFK reported the whale’s body was found floating in a harbor off of southern Norway on Saturday by a father and son who were out fishing.
The 14-foot, 2,700-pound white beluga was taken out of the water by a crane, and experts will examine it to determine a cause of death, NFK said.
RELATED STORY | Scientists discover cocaine in sharks off the coast of Brazil Hvaldimir — a name that combines the Norwegian word “hval” for whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first name — was first spotted by fishermen near Russian waters in April 2019.
The whale was wearing a harness that read “Equipment St. Petersburg” and appeared to be a mount for a camera, sparking rumors that it was a Russian spy whale.
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The military use of marine animals is something that has been well documented over the years, but Moscow never claimed Hvaldimir.
The friendly beluga became a fixture around the waters of Norway, and its response to hand signals and other human interactions led others to believe it may have been a therapy whale of some sort.
According to numerous reports, a cherished beluga whale known by the nickname Hvaldimir has passed away. The whale gained notoriety when it was discovered in 2019 wearing a harness, which raised suspicions that it might be a Russian spy whale.
According to NFK, a public broadcaster in Norway, a father and son who were out fishing on Saturday discovered the whale’s body floating in a harbor near coastal southern Norway.
After being removed from the water by a crane, the 14-foot, 2,700-pound white beluga will be examined by specialists to ascertain the reason for its demise, according to NFK.
RELATED STORY | Off the coast of Brazil, scientists find cocaine in sharks.
In April 2019, fishermen in the vicinity of Russian waters spotted Hvaldimir, a name that combines the Norwegian word “hval” for whale with the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Equipment St.” was printed on the whale’s harness. Reports that it was a Russian spy whale began when it looked like a camera mount for “Petersburg.”.
READ MORE: How did four whales beach themselves on the East Coast in one week?
Moscow has never claimed Hvaldimir, despite the fact that the use of marine animals for military purposes has been extensively documented throughout the years.
The amiable beluga became a common sight on Norwegian waters, and some speculated that it might have been a therapy whale due to its reaction to hand signals and other human interactions.
