Norwegian animal rights groups are demanding a criminal investigation after claiming there is “compelling evidence” a “spy” whale was shot dead.
The body of Hvaldimir – a beluga whale suspected of being trained as a Russian spy – was found floating at Risavika Bay in southern Norway on Saturday.
Two conservation groups, OneWhale and NOAH, are seeking a criminal investigation alleging there is “compelling evidence that the whale was killed by gunshot wounds”.
OneWhale wrote in an Instagram post: “Several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts have reviewed evidence of Hvaldimir’s injuries, determining that the whale’s death was the result of a criminal act.”
NOAH director Siri Martinsen said: “The injuries on the whale are alarming – it is shocking… it is crucial that the police are involved quickly.”
Regina Haug, founder of OneWhale – an organisation which campaigned to protect Hvaldimir – claimed to have seen a bullet wound.
“I have been with Hvaldimir for the past five years and know him very well. When I saw his body, I immediately knew he had been killed by gunshots. I even saw a bullet lodged in his body,” she said in a statement on Instagram.
The groups shared photos which appeared to show streaks of blood and holes in Hvaldimir’s carcass.
However, officials told Sky’s US partner network NBC News that a definitive assessment could take up to three weeks and the beluga whale is undergoing a post-mortem.
Calls to halt speculation
Another conservation group, Marine Mind, urged people to “refrain from speculation”.
Posting on Facebook, the organisation said: “When we found Hvaldimir on Saturday, it was not possible to immediately determine the cause of death.
“Until the cause of death is established by those responsible for the investigation, temporary assumptions will not be useful for anything other than publicity.”
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Whale was a celebrity
Ms Haug told NBC News that Hvaldimir was believed to be 15 years old, relatively young given that beluga whales can live 60 to 70 years in the wild.
“The whale I knew and loved was a strong, capable and energetic animal yet so gentle, with a sweet and cheeky personality,” she said.
It quickly became clear he was very tame and enjoyed playing with people, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said.
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Was Hvaldimir trained as a Russian spy?
Hvaldimir was first spotted near the Norwegian island of Ingoya in April 2019. He was wearing a harness and what appeared to be a mount for a small camera.
One of the buckles had “equipment St Petersburg” written on it.
He was given the name Hvaldimir combining the Norwegian word for whale – hval – and Russian President Putin’s first name Vladimir.
Marine Mind believes he entered Norway by crossing over from Russian waters, where it is presumed he was held in captivity and trained for military purposes.
“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,” the charity said in a statement shortly after the beluga whale’s death.
Both OneWhale and NOAH had been trying to relocate the whale to safer waters in northern Norway, where he could have joined other belugas.
