The beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, who gained international attention after being found with a mysterious harness and suspected of being a Russian spy, has been found dead off the coast of Norway. The whale was discovered by a father and son who were out fishing in Risavika Bay in southern Norway. Hvaldimir, a beloved symbol of hope and connection between humans and the natural world, was being tracked by a nonprofit organization called Marine Mind.
The 14 to 15-year-old beluga whale’s body was lifted from the water for further examination to determine the cause of his sudden death. Despite speculation that he might have been trained by the Russian navy, no major external injuries were visible on the animal. Hvaldimir had been spotted in various Norwegian towns over the past five years, displaying friendly behavior towards humans.
While some media outlets had speculated that Hvaldimir was a “therapy whale” rather than a spy, his sudden death has left many saddened by the loss of this unique and friendly creature. Beluga whales typically live to be between 40 to 60 years old and are native to the northern waters of Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who had been monitoring Hvaldimir’s movements, expressed deep sadness over the loss of the whale. The Norwegian veterinary institute will conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of Hvaldimir’s death, in order to provide closure for those who cared for him.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com