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Russian ‘spy’ beluga whale found dead had multiple bullet wounds

russian-‘spy’-beluga-whale-found-dead-had-multiple-bullet-wounds
Russian ‘spy’ beluga whale found dead had multiple bullet wounds

A beluga whale purportedly trained as a Russian spy that was found dead off the coast of Norway this weekend died with “multiple bullet wounds” according to an animal rights group.

Dubbed “Hvaldimir” as a pun on hval the Norwegian word for whale, the beluga made a name for itself for allegedly being put to work by the Russian regime as an aquatic spy.

White beluga whale wearing a harness swimming off the coast of northern Norway

Hvaldimir ‘s presence was well-known in Norway’s waters, and marine nonprofits used his story to promote marine conservation. NTB Scanpix/Norwegian Directorate of fisheries/AFP via Getty Images

Manager Regina Haug standing next to the carcass of beluga whale Hvaldimir in Norway.

Belugas live in large groups of pods in the wild, and marine experts say living a solitary life put Hvaldimir at risk. AP

Person feeding a beluga whale in Arctic Norway, April 2019

Hvaldimir’s lifeless body was found floating in the waters off Norwegian coast on Saturday. AP

Hvaldimir’s lifeless body was found floating in the waters off southwestern coast of the Scandinavian country Saturday and transported to a local veterinary institute for autopsy where it was revealed he “had multiple bullet wounds around his body,” advocacy group One Whale’s chief Regina Crosby Haug told AFP after viewing the body.

Close-up view of the skin surface of the beluga whale Hvaldimir's carcass, presented by OneWhale.org

Investigators are working to determine whether the bullets caused the whale’s death. AP

It was not immediately known whether the bullets caused his death, and a spokesperson for Norwegian Veterinary Institute told CBS a full report would be released within three weeks.

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