New Claims on Death of Russian 'Spy Whale' Hvaldimir by Authorities

Photo : AP

A beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, found dead in Norway last August, did not die from gunshot wounds, as suggested by some animal rights groups, but rather from a bacterial infection, according to Norwegian police. The police stated that the probable cause of the infection was linked to a stick lodged in the whale's mouth, leading to its untimely demise.

Hvaldimir, measuring 14 feet long and weighing around 2,700 pounds, first gained attention in 2019 when he was spotted wearing a harness inscribed with “Equipment St. Petersburg,” leading many to speculate that he was a Russian spy. This prompted the public to affectionately nickname him Hvaldimir, which combines the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The whale was discovered deceased near Stavanger on August 31, sparking concerns from animal rights organizations, including NOAH and One Whale, which claimed Hvaldimir had been shot. In response to these claims, the Veterinary Institute in Sandnes, commissioned by the Directorate of Fisheries, performed an autopsy on the whale. The examination revealed a 35-centimeter (14-inch) stick lodged in its mouth.

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Norwegian police official Amund Preede Revheim reported that the autopsy concluded the probable cause of death was a bacterial infection resulting from injuries in its mouth caused by the stick. "The stick may also have led to Hvaldimir having challenges with its nutrition, thus increasing infections," the police stated in a press release.

Further investigations by the police and veterinary experts found no indications of gunshot injuries. X-rays of the whale’s chest and head did not reveal any metal fragments or evidence of bullets, leading to the conclusion that no foul play was involved. Consequently, there was no need for a criminal investigation into Hvaldimir’s death.

For biosecurity purposes, whale remains are typically destroyed following autopsies at the Veterinary Institute. However, in this instance, the Directorate of Fisheries decided to donate Hvaldimir's skeleton to the Nature Museum and Botanical Garden at the University of Agder.

In an interesting note from last year, Norwegian authorities urged citizens to avoid contact with Hvaldimir, who was spotted in a fjord near Oslo, highlighting the complexities and concerns surrounding this enigmatic marine creature.

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