Hvaldimir’s Death: Norway Investigates Potential Foul Play in Beluga Whale’s Death
The death of Hvaldimir, a beloved white beluga whale who rose to fame in Norway, has become shrouded in mystery. Two animal rights groups, OneWhale and NOAH, have alleged that Hvaldimir was “shot to death,” sparking speculation that the whale may have been assassinated, CNN reports.
Hvaldimir, whose name combines the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first name, captured global attention in 2019 when he was spotted wearing a specially-made harness with mounts for a camera. This sparked speculation that he was trained by the Russian military.
OneWhale, a non-profit dedicated to protecting Hvaldimir, posted pictures on Instagram showing what appear to be holes and streaks of blood on the whale’s body. The organization claims that “several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts” have reviewed the evidence and determined that Hvaldimir’s death was a criminal act.
OneWhale and NOAH have filed a police report with the Sandnes Police District and the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, calling for a criminal investigation.
The Southwestern Police District confirmed receiving the request but has not yet decided whether to open a formal inquiry.
Marine Mind, another non-profit protecting marine life, has urged the public to refrain from speculation until the country’s Veterinary Institute completes its investigation. The organization discovered Hvaldimir’s body in the Risavika Bay on Saturday, and a cause of death could not be immediately determined.
Before his death, OneWhale and NOAH had been working to relocate Hvaldimir to a safer area in northern Norway.
Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported that Hvaldimir’s body was found floating in Risavika Bay by a father and son fishing. The whale was lifted from the water with a crane and taken to a nearby harbor for examination. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand told NRK that no major external injuries were visible on the animal.
