Hvaldimir, The Celebrated 'Russian Spy' Whale, Found Dead In Norway

A white beluga whale wearing a harness is seen off the coast of northern Norway, April 29, 2019. (Reuters)

The beluga captured global attention in 2019 due to a mysterious harness from St. Petersburg

The beluga whale that captured global attention in 2019 when he was found wearing a harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” has been found dead off the coast of Norway.

The 14-foot-long, 2,700-pound whale named ‘Hvaldimir’ was discovered by a father and son fishing in the bay of Risavika, near Stavanger, on August 31, according to The New York Times.

The whale, whose name is a blend of the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” and the Russian name Vladimir, quickly became a subject of fascination after he was first spotted near Hammerfest in northern Norway in April 2019. The harness fueled speculation that Hvaldimir was part of a Russian spy mission, but no official claim of ownership was made by Moscow.

Experts believed Hvaldimir had been in captivity for much of his life, as he was unusually comfortable around humans compared to other belugas, which typically inhabit the remote Arctic waters. In the years following his discovery, Hvaldimir’s range expanded to include areas of the southwestern coastline of Sweden.

Sebastian Strand, founder of the nonprofit Marine Mind, which worked to protect Hvaldimir, expressed his heartbreak over the whale’s death, saying he had touched thousands of people’s hearts in Norway. The cause of Hvaldimir’s death is still under probe, but officials have confirmed that he was in good health before his passing.