Norwegian authorities have announced that Hvaldimir, the beluga whale famously dubbed the “Russian spy whale,” died from a bacterial infection caused by a stick lodged in his mouth—not from gunshot wounds as previously speculated. The whale was found dead near Stavanger on August 31.
First spotted in 2019, Hvaldimir gained international attention when he appeared wearing a harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” sparking theories that he was trained by the Russian military. His name combines the Norwegian word for whale, “hval,” with the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Animal rights organizations NOAH and One Whale had alleged that the whale was shot and filed a police report. In response, the Veterinary Institute in Sandnes conducted an autopsy on behalf of the Directorate of Fisheries. They discovered a 35-centimeter (14-inch) stick embedded in his mouth, which likely led to nutritional challenges and a fatal infection.
“The report concluded that the probable cause of death was a bacterial infection, possibly resulting from wounds in his mouth caused by the stuck stick,” said Amund Preede Revheim, a Norwegian police official.
A press release from the police noted that the “pinnen” (Norwegian for “stick”) may have hindered Hvaldimir’s ability to eat properly, exacerbating the infection. Investigations found no evidence of gunshot wounds or metal fragments, and therefore no further police action will be taken.
“There are no indications that Hvaldimir’s death was caused illegally. The police therefore have no reason to initiate an investigation into the whale’s death and have responded accordingly to the report,” Revheim added.
While remains are usually destroyed after autopsies for biosecurity reasons, the Directorate of Fisheries has decided to donate Hvaldimir’s skeleton to the Nature Museum and Botanical Garden at the University of Agder.
