The "Russian spy whale" Hvaldimir, found dead in Norway, may have been killed by a firearm, The Guardian reports, citing statements from animal protection organizations OneWhale and NOAH, which have called for an immediate investigation.

"Several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts examined photo evidence, including close-ups of Hvaldimir’s injuries. Their assessments strongly indicate that the whale’s death resulted from a criminal act, warranting immediate police intervention," the activists' statement said.

The head of OneWhale stated that Hvaldimir had "multiple gunshot wounds all over his body." 

"The injuries sustained by the whale are alarming and suggest a nature that cannot rule out foul play—it is shocking," said the head of NOAH.

According to NBC News sources in Norway, the whale's autopsy is ongoing, and the final assessment could take up to three weeks.

The beluga whale, named Hvaldimir (hval means "whale" in Norwegian), was first discovered in Norway's Finnmark region in 2019. The animal was wearing a harness suitable for mounting an action camera. The harness bore the logo of the Russian company and the inscription Equipment St. Petersburg. This led to speculation that the whale was a "Russian spy." Russian authorities did not comment on these assumptions.

The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries believed that the whale had been in captivity for some time, as it behaved as if it was accustomed to humans. The whale’s carcass was found in Risavika Bay in the south of the country on September 2. According to some assessments, Hvaldimir was between 15 and 20 years old at the time of his death, which is relatively young for a beluga, as they can live from 40 to 60 years.

Source: RBC

Also read the publication:
Large-Scale Development Ban On 28 Million Acres in Alaska