Hvaldimir the world-famous 'Russian spy whale' found dead in Norway

Updated: Those who got to know the friendly whale say they are 'beyond heartbroken' and 'very upset'.

Michael Dahlstrom
·Environment Editor
Updated ·2-min read
Left: Close up of Hvaldimir's harness. Right: Hvaldimir in the water in 2019 wearing his harness.
Hvaldimir appeared in Norway wearing a strange Russian harness. Source: Jørgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via Storyful

Hvaldimir, the Russian spy whale has been found dead. The charismatic beluga drew worldwide attention in 2019 when he was discovered in Norwegian waters wearing a harness reading ‘‘equipment of St Petersburg".

Authorities had been considering moving him back to waters closer to Russia, although this proved controversial and more than 70 experts from 17 countries had signed an open letter urging against the plan. Local media reported Hvaldimir was discovered on Saturday (local time) by a father and son who were fishing in waters off Risavika in the country's south. It's still too early to determine his cause of death.

Hvaldimir's movements had been monitored daily by non-profit Marine Mind and news of his death is understood to have been a shock to those close to him.

Hvaldimir was friendly towards humans and would often approach boats. Source: Marine Mind
Hvaldimir was friendly towards humans and would often approach boats. Source: Marine Mind

The group's founder Sebastian Strand said in August that Hvaldimir appeared to be doing well. “The whale has a good body condition and does not display signs of mental anguish,” he said.

In a brief statement on Saturday night, Strand told Yahoo News it had been "chaos" after Hvaldimir's death and he was working to try and "do him justice" and ensure his body was treated with respect.

He later confirmed the whale's body had been placed in a cooled truck, ahead of a necropsy on Monday.

"I'm beyond heartbroken, but going to keep it mostly together until he has been examined and we've secured that at least his cause of death will not be a mystery," he added.

Earlier Dolphin and whale activist Ric O'Barry told Yahoo News he was feeling "very upset" after hearing about Hvaldimir's death. And he stressed it was important an independent necropsy be carried out to find out what killed him.

"There were a lot of people I know who fell in love with this whale," he added.

More to come.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.

Latest stories