By Sakshi Sah
Published Sep 08, 2024

Photo Credits: Reuters

5 facts on Hvaldimir: Russian ‘spy’ whale found dead In Norway

Hvaldimir, the beluga whale thought to be a Russian spy, was found dead near Norway's coast.

Photo Credits: Unsplash (Representative Image)

This whale captured global attention and sparked numerous debates.

Photo Credits: Reuters

In 2019, he was found with a harness labelled "St. Petersburg". This led to speculations over him being a Russian spy.

Photo Credits: Unsplash (Representative Image)

Hvaldimir had health problems and injuries that worried marine conservationists and local authorities.

Photo Credits: Unsplash (Representative Image)

According to a New York Times report, the whale was close to 14 feet long and about 2,700 pounds.

Photo Credits: Reuters

Hvaldimir was spotted near Ingoya, an island in northern Norway, about 300km (190 miles) from the maritime border with Russia.

Photo Credits: Unsplash (Representative Image)

The whale’s friendly behaviour towards humans and its ability to respond to hand signals made Norway's intelligence agency believe it was kept in captivity in Russia.

Photo Credits: Unsplash (Representative Image)

The agency suspected that the whale had been part of a Russian research programme before it ended up in Norwegian waters.

Photo Credits: Pexels (Representative Image)

The exact cause of death remains unknown at this time.

Photo Credits: Pexels (Representative Image)

Despite the allegations, Russia has never claimed ownership of the whale.

Photo Credits: Pexels (Representative Image)