Animal rights groups are calling for an investigation after the body of Hvaldimir, a famous beluga whale believed to have been trained by the Russian military, was found off the coast of south-western Norway with multiple bullet wounds.
The whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir in a play on the Norwegian word for whale (hval) and the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, first garnered global attention in 2019. When he appeared in Norway’s far-northern Finnmark region, Hvaldimir was wearing a harness with a mount for an action camera and “Equipment St. Petersburg” inscribed on its clasps, sparking speculation he had been trained by Russia as a military spy.
Hvaldimir was found dead on Saturday by the animal tracking group Marine Mind, which had been monitoring his movements. His body showed markings that suggested potential gunshot wounds, though some could have been caused by marine birds. His remains were transported to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, where an autopsy is expected to provide more definitive answers within three weeks.
Animal rights groups, including Noah and One Whale, have filed a police complaint requesting a criminal investigation into Hvaldimir’s death. Regina Crosby Haug, head of One Whale, said she observed “multiple bullet wounds” on the whale’s body. Noah director Siri Martinsen called the injuries “alarming,” urging a swift investigation by authorities.
Hvaldimir, estimated to be between 15 and 20 years old, was still young for a beluga whale, which typically live 40 to 60 years. While Moscow has never responded to claims that Hvaldimir was trained by the Russian military, the whale’s close interactions with humans have fueled ongoing speculation.
As the autopsy results are awaited, animal rights groups continue to push for answers surrounding Hvaldimir’s tragic and mysterious death.