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A beluga whale named "Hvaldimir", suspected of being trained by Russia as a spy was found dead near the Norwegian coast.
The non-profit organization Marine Mind, which had been monitoring the whale, confirmed the discovery of its lifeless body near the town of Risavika in southern Norway.
According to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, a local father and son went fishing over the weekend and spotted the whale's body drifting in the sea.
Hvaldimir, whose name is a combination of the Norwegian term for whale, "hval," and the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has become a symbol of connection between humans and the natural world, Marine Mind stated on social media.
Sebastian Strand, a marine biologist associated with Marine Mind, expressed shock at Hvaldimir's sudden death. Strand added that the whale was apparently in good condition as of August 30, 2024. No major external injuries were visible on the whale's body, and the reason for the death is unknown.
The body has been sent to the nearest port for investigation, and the Norwegian veterinary institute plans to perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Hvaldimir was first spotted in April 2019 near the island of Ingoya in northern Norway, some 300 kilometers (190 miles) from Russia's maritime border. At the time, the whale was carrying a harness with a tiny camera mount labeled "Equipment St Petersburg" in English.
The finding led to rumours that Russia had trained the whale for military purposes, a claim supported by the whale's unusual familiarity with humans and reaction to hand gestures.
Norway's domestic intelligence agency suspected that Hvaldimir was held captive as part of a Russian research program. Moscow, on the other hand, has never responded to the charges and has repeatedly rejected any program to train sea creatures for espionage purposes.
Since 2019, Marine Mind has continuously monitored Hvaldimir's movements. Despite the speculations about espionage, the whale became a popular figure among Norwegians and was frequently spotted approaching boats in Norwegian seas.
The beluga, estimated to be 15 years old, was considered youthful, given that belugas can live up to 60 years.
According to Marine Mind, Hvaldimir is not only a beluga whale but also a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world. The team continues to investigate the whale's untimely death.
Russia has a history of training marine mammals such as dolphins for military purposes. In 2019, the Barents Observer website claimed sightings of whale pens near naval bases in the northwest region of Murmansk, home to Russia's Northern Fleet. Despite the problems surrounding Hvaldimir, Russia has never formally addressed allegations that it was trained by the military.
Reference: Reuters, NYTimes
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