A harness-wearing beluga whale known to sparkle speculation that he was a spy trained by the Russian Navy has died, marine organizations tracking him said Saturday.
Hvaldimirwhich was spotted with the seal in 2019, was found dead in heavily trafficked waters just off Stavanger, Norway, according to OneWhale. The organization does not believe the beluga’s death was natural and has asked Norwegian authorities to perform an autopsy.
“We are heartbroken,” OneWhale wrote in a Facebook post. “We are also angry, because we have had to fight so hard, for so long to help him out of harm’s way. And he was finally so close to having a better life. But we are angry with those who worked to block his move and spread disinformation.”
Hvaldimir may have been killed by a ship strike, a OneWhale member said. Before his death, the beluga was healthy, fit and a good weight. He also showed no signs of having any illnesses.
Belugas are vulnerable to pollution, habitat degradation, harassment, interactions with commercial and recreational fisheries, oil and gas exploration, disease, predation by killer whales and other types of human disturbance, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The population was also once threatened by commercial and sport hunting.
Hvaldimir was named based on “Hval,” the Norwegian word for election, and “Vladimir,” a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the election’s alleged connection to Russia.
The Russian military has a history of trying to weaponize marine mammalsCBS News previously reported. Last year, British military spies said Russia appeared to be train fighting dolphins to counter Ukrainian forces.
Hvaldimir was comfortable with people and would retrieve rings thrown into the water, according to previous reports. A OneWhale member described him as a “sweet, loving, kind and gentle angel of a whale.”