emirates7 - Norwegian police have stated there is no evidence to support claims that the beluga whale, which gained attention off Norway’s coast due to speculation it was a Russian spy, was shot dead last month, as alleged by animal rights groups.
The beluga, nicknamed "Hvaldimir" — a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin — was initially spotted in 2019 near Russian waters wearing a harness labeled "Equipment St. Petersburg." On August 31, its body was found floating in Risavika Bay, southern Norway, and was lifted with a crane for examination by experts.
Animal rights organizations OneWhale and NOAH filed a police report claiming the whale’s injuries suggested it had been intentionally shot. OneWhale founder Regina Haug said she believed the wounds indicated gunshots.
However, Norwegian police reported that a preliminary autopsy by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute showed no signs that the whale had been shot. The police statement clarified that most of the visible wounds were superficial, with one being slightly deeper but not fatal or impacting any vital organs. An x-ray revealed no projectiles, ruling out gunshot wounds.
The examination did uncover a 35-centimeter (14-inch) stick lodged in the whale's mouth, while its stomach was empty, and its organs had deteriorated. No further details were provided about the cause of death.
Preede Revheim, head of the North Sea and environment section of the South Western Norway police, noted that there was no evidence to suggest human activity directly caused Hvaldimir’s death. Police are not pursuing further investigation, though the final autopsy report will be released later this month.
The beluga, nicknamed "Hvaldimir" — a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin — was initially spotted in 2019 near Russian waters wearing a harness labeled "Equipment St. Petersburg." On August 31, its body was found floating in Risavika Bay, southern Norway, and was lifted with a crane for examination by experts.
Animal rights organizations OneWhale and NOAH filed a police report claiming the whale’s injuries suggested it had been intentionally shot. OneWhale founder Regina Haug said she believed the wounds indicated gunshots.
However, Norwegian police reported that a preliminary autopsy by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute showed no signs that the whale had been shot. The police statement clarified that most of the visible wounds were superficial, with one being slightly deeper but not fatal or impacting any vital organs. An x-ray revealed no projectiles, ruling out gunshot wounds.
The examination did uncover a 35-centimeter (14-inch) stick lodged in the whale's mouth, while its stomach was empty, and its organs had deteriorated. No further details were provided about the cause of death.
Preede Revheim, head of the North Sea and environment section of the South Western Norway police, noted that there was no evidence to suggest human activity directly caused Hvaldimir’s death. Police are not pursuing further investigation, though the final autopsy report will be released later this month.