Famous beluga whale, considered a ‘Russian spy’, dies in Norway

The beluga whale made famous by the “Russian spy gear” found off the coast of Norway died over the weekend, and volunteers said they were close to securing its release into the open sea.

The white beluga whale named Hvaldimir was discovered near the Russian-Norwegian maritime border in 2019 wearing a Russian camera harness, sparking rumors that he had been used as a spy, according to Marine Mind, a Norway-based whale conservation nonprofit.

Hvaldimir was frequently seen in Norwegian waters and actively sought out proximity to humans. He spent a lot of time in fish farms. According to Marine Mind, he was hit by propellers and sustained other injuries during his encounters with humans.

On Saturday, locals reported that Hvaldimir was found floating dead in the water. Norwegian news channel NRK reported that his body was found in the waters off Rogaland and taken to the port of Risavika.

OneWhale founder Regina Haug posted an update on Instagram, saying Hvaldimir's cause of death was unknown, but Norwegian officials would conduct an autopsy.

“We don't yet know how he died, but he was in busy waters off Stavanger in Norway, so we assume it was not a natural death,” said Haug. “We have asked the Norwegian authorities for an autopsy and they have agreed to do so. We are deeply saddened. We are also angry because we had to fight so long and hard to save him from danger. And he was finally so close to having a better life.”

OneWhale, another organization set up to help Hvaldimir, said it had received permits from various government agencies in Norway to move Hvaldimir to a location near a wild pod of beluga whales in open waters. Beluga whales live in large groups in the wild, and marine experts say Hvaldimir is at risk because he lives a solitary life.

The organization said it was working to get Hvaldimir to his new home by September, which could potentially give him another 50 years to live.

Hvaldimir's presence was well known in Norwegian waters, and marine nonprofits used his story to promote marine conservation.

“Over the past five years, he has touched the lives of tens of thousands and brought people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence has taught us the importance of protecting the oceans, and in doing so, he has also taught us more about ourselves,” Marine Mind wrote.