Yes, you have read our headline correctly. A beluga whale was indeed rumored to be a Russian spy. This whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, was mysteriously found dead in Norway last Saturday.
Some experts are saying that the beluga was shot dead.
“Today, OneWhale and NOAH, two prominent animal rights organizations, have filed a police report in connection with the tragic death of Hvaldimir, the famous beluga whale known for his friendly demeanor and alleged ties to Russian naval operations,” said a Wednesday press release from the organizations . “The report has been submitted to the Sandnes Police District and the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.”
Hvladimir’s time in the public spotlight began in 2019, when Norwegian media outlet NRK reported that the white whale was being spotted often by fishermen in Finnmark. He was found swimming between boats with a harness on. Per the report, the whale would seek boats and people and try to rub the harness off its body.
Fishermen were worried that the harness (labelled “Equipment St. Petersburg”) was too tight and that the whale was in distress. Experts believe Hvladimir was at least 8 years old when he arrived in Norway. Belugas typically live around 30 years.
Audun Rikardsen, a professor at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Arctic University in Tromsø (UiT) said Hvladimir may have originated from Russia, said the NRK report. There, some beluga whales have been domesticated in captivity, it added. Martin Biuw, another expert, said the harness was likely put on the whale by the Russian navy, not scientists.
“Both the US and Russian navies secretly used various marine mammals for various tasks during the Cold War, but also during the Vietnam and Iraq wars,” NRK added. CBS News reported that in 2017, Russia’s defense ministry-owned TV Zvezda, aired a report on a Russian navy program to train beluga whales, seals and dolphins.
Beluga whales are known for their white color and vocal sounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries . They are very social and they often live in packs.
“Beluga whales are found globally throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. In the United States, they are found in the state of Alaska,” said NOAA Fisheries. “They are at home along coastal bays and inlets and can move between salt and freshwater. A thick layer of fat, called blubber, and thick skin helps them live in the freezing waters of the arctic and subarctic environment.”
One Whale was created to protect Hvladimir and since 2021 – the year he sustained an injury, likely from boating equipment – it has provided him with safe veterinary checks. While his harness was eventually removed, the beluga decided to stay along Norway’s coast. Even as he caused disruptions at commercial salmon farms, the whale captured people’s hearts. An unofficial tourism industry even popped up around him.
Due to the disruptions caused by Hvladimir and Hvladimir tourists, One Whale was attempting to relocate him to an area where we could swim with other belugas. Now, the organization will never have the chance.
Marine Mind, another organization said Saturday that its team receibed a sighting report from a local. They arrived to find Hvaldimir “floating peacefully in the water, no longer with us,” and said a necropsy was to be conducted. This week the group said it was awaiting results of the report before commenting on the cause of Hvladimir’s death .
“The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act – it is shocking,” said Siri Martinsen, veterinarian and leader of NOAH, Norway’s largest animal rights organization. “Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police are involved quickly. Hvaldimir was significant to many, and all facts must be brought to light regarding his death.”
As of Wednesday, results of the necropsy report for Hvladimir were still pending, said One Whale. However, it said there was “compelling evidence” that he was killed by gunshot wounds, including analysis of photos by veterinarians, biologists and ballistics experts.
“I have been with Hvaldimir for the past five years and know him very well. When I saw his body and the multiple injuries, I immediately knew he had been killed by gunshots,” said Regina Haug, founder of OneWhale. “I even saw a bullet lodged in his body. There is no question that this kind, gentle animal was senselessly murdered. We will pursue justice for Hvaldimir and hope that someone comes forward with information about his killing.”
“There were many obstacles that prevented his move from happening sooner, including bureaucratic processes, poorly defined laws, misinformation, and sadly, attempts by other organizations to block his move. Despite this, we were so close to finally getting Hvaldimir to safer waters and giving him a chance at a sustainable future. Our worst fears came true when his young life was cut short. Our hope is that Hvaldimir’s tragedy will be a lesson and never be repeated,” Haug added.
Norwegian Marine Biologist Anna Victoria Pyne Vinje also noted that the beluga is a red-listed whale of “significant ecological and cultural importance to Norwegian wildlife,” and said it is troubling that someone would shoot one. She also said claims that the whale may have died via natural causes or injuries caused by birds are equally concerning.
“These assertions lack scientific credibility and risk misleading the public. The integrity of the scientific community and the media relies on accurate and evidence-based communication,” she said.
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