Mon Sep 09 15:37:46 UTC 2024: ## Beloved “Spy Whale” Hvaldimir Died from Stick Stuck in Mouth, Autopsy Finds
A beloved beluga whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, who was found dead in Norway on September 1, did not die from human activity, according to a police autopsy. Initial reports from animal rights groups suggested that Hvaldimir, who was rumored to be a Russian “spy” due to a GoPro camera strapped to his body, had been shot.
However, the forensic examination concluded that the cause of death was a 35cm-long stick lodged in the whale’s mouth. Police confirmed that while Hvaldimir had sustained some superficial injuries, there was no evidence of gunshot wounds.
The whale’s body was found floating near the town of Risavika on Norway’s southwestern coast, prompting an investigation after animal rights groups filed complaints. One Whale founder Regina Haug initially claimed to have seen “multiple bullet wounds” in the carcass, sparking widespread concern.
Following the autopsy, police have ended their investigation and are preparing a full report to be released in two weeks.
Hvaldimir had become famous in 2019 when he was spotted in Norwegian waters wearing a GoPro camera attached to a harness labelled “Equipment of St Petersburg.” This sparked speculation that the whale was being used for espionage missions by Russia, which has a history of training marine mammals for military purposes.
While the autopsy has ruled out foul play in Hvaldimir’s death, the mystery of his origins and the possibility of his potential use as a “spy” remain.
First Piper 