Police Find No Evidence of Shooting in Death of Whale Dubbed Russian ‘Spy’

Norwegian police have determined that the beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, which had been the subject of intrigue due to its unusual harness, was not shot prior to its death.

The whale, discovered dead on August 31 in Risavika Bay, Norway, had sparked speculation and controversy after animal rights groups alleged it had been intentionally harmed.

Animal rights organizations One Whale and NOAH had claimed that Hvaldimir’s body showed signs of gunshot wounds, leading them to file a complaint and demand a thorough investigation. Initial photographs posted by One Whale appeared to show what they interpreted as bullet wounds on the whale’s carcass.

However, a forensic autopsy conducted by Norwegian authorities revealed that Hvaldimir’s death was not due to gunshot wounds. The preliminary examination found that the whale had a stick, measuring approximately 35 centimeters (14 inches) long and 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) wide, lodged in its mouth. Police have indicated that the stick, along with other injuries, did not appear to be related to any shooting incident.

Police stated that the visible wounds on Hvaldimir were superficial and did not affect vital organs. An X-ray showed no projectiles, and the autopsy did not find any evidence suggesting that human activity directly caused the whale’s death. The whale’s stomach was empty, and many of its organs had deteriorated.

The case has drawn significant attention due to Hvaldimir’s past. The whale gained fame in 2019 when it was found off Norway’s Arctic coast with a harness that included a mount for a camera labeled “Equipment of St. Petersburg.” This discovery led to speculation that Hvaldimir might have been involved in espionage activities, with some suggesting it was a “spy whale” trained by Russia.

Despite the preliminary findings, animal rights groups remain dissatisfied and are calling for further investigation. NOAH and One Whale have offered a monetary reward for additional information and have expressed concerns that the initial report does not fully address their questions about Hvaldimir’s death.

Police have indicated that they will not pursue further investigation unless new evidence emerges and expect to release a full report in two weeks.

New York Times, the Guardian, CBS News, BBC, the Daily Beast contributed to this report.