Over the weekend, news emerged that believed “Russian spy” beluga whale Hvalidmir had died.
But perhaps fittingly — considering his mysterious past as a possible foreign agent — the circumstances surrounding his death sound increasingly bizarre.
Regina Haug, the founder of animal rights group One Whale, is saying the beluga died a violent death, and is suggesting foul play.
“He had multiple bullet wounds around his body,” Haug claimed in an Instagram post.
The post was appended with photographs of what appear to be bullet wounds dotting Hvaldimir’s corpse.
“The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act — it is shocking,” said animal rights group Noah director Siri Martinsen in a statement. “Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police are involved quickly.”
Das Shoot
A separate organization called Marine Mind, which was tracking Hvaldimir’s movements, took a different tack.
“There was nothing to immediately reveal the cause of death,” director Sebastian Strand told Agence France-Presse. “We saw markings but it’s too early to say what they were.”
Strand suggested that the markings may have been the result of marine birds.
The beluga whale was estimated to be only around 14 to 15 years old, roughly half of the average lifespan of its species.
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is now conducting an autopsy and will publicize its results in a matter of weeks.
Meanwhile, Noah and One Whale are adamant that Hvaldimir was shot and are “filing a police report to the Sandnes Police District and the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime,” according to One Whale’s Instagram post.
“I have been with Hvaldimir for the past five years and know him very well,” said Haug in a statement. “When I saw his body, I immediately knew he had been killed by gunshots. I even saw a bullet lodged in his body.”
“This kind, gentle animal was senselessly murdered,” she added. “We will pursue justice for Hvaldimir and hope that someone comes forward with information about his killing.”
