A beluga wearing a harness known for its sparks speculation that he was a spy A Russian soldier trained by the Russian Navy has died, maritime organizations searching for him said Saturday.
Hvaldimirspotted wearing the harness in 2019, was found dead in busy waters just outside Stavanger, Norway, according to OneWhale. The organization does not believe the beluga’s death was natural and has asked Norwegian authorities to conduct a necropsy.
“We are heartbroken,” OneWhale wrote in a Facebook post. “We are also angry because we had to fight so hard, for so long, to get him out of harm’s way. And he was finally so close to a better life. But we are angry at those who worked to block his departure and spread misinformation.”
Hvaldimir may have been killed in a collision with a boat, a OneWhale member said. Before his death, the beluga was healthy, fit and of normal weight. He also showed no signs of illness.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, belugas are vulnerable to pollution, habitat degradation, harassment, interactions with commercial and recreational fisheries, oil and gas exploration, disease, predation by orcas and other types of human disturbance. The population was also threatened by commercial and sport whaling.
Hvaldimir is named after “Hval,” the Norwegian word for whale, and “Vladimir,” a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the whale’s alleged connection to Russia.
The Russian army has a history of Attempting to use marine mammals as weaponsCBS News has previously reported. Last year, British military spies said Russia appeared combat dolphin training to counter Ukrainian forces.
Hvaldimir was comfortable around people and would retrieve rings thrown into the water, according to previous reports. One OneWhale member described him as a “sweet, loving, kind and gentle whale angel.”
