Norwegian authorities have confirmed that the beluga whale, famously known as “Hvaldimir,” which was found dead outside Stavanger on August 31, succumbed to a bacterial infection, not gunshot wounds, as previously speculated. Hvaldimir, a 14-foot-long, 2,700-pound whale, gained international attention in 2019 after being spotted wearing a harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” sparking rumors that he was a Russian spy whale.
The whale’s death prompted animal rights organizations NOAH and One Whale to claim that Hvaldimir had been shot, and they subsequently filed a police report. However, after conducting an autopsy, the Veterinary Institute in Sandnes, on behalf of Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries, discovered a 35-centimeter (14-inch) wooden stick lodged in the whale’s mouth.
Norwegian police official Amund Preede Revheim explained, “The report concluded that the probable cause of death was a bacterial infection, likely resulting from wounds in his mouth caused by the stick.” He added that the lodged stick may have hindered the whale’s ability to eat properly, worsening the infection.
Further assessments by the Veterinary Institute and police technicians found no injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. X-rays of the whale’s head and chest revealed no metal fragments or bullet traces, ruling out the possibility of foul play.
Authorities have confirmed that there was no evidence of illegal human activity related to the whale’s death. Therefore, no further investigation will be pursued. “The police had no reason to launch an investigation into the whale’s death after reviewing the autopsy results,” Revheim stated.
In a final decision, the Directorate of Fisheries will donate Hvaldimir’s skeleton to the Nature Museum and Botanical Garden at the University of Agder. The remains of the whale were destroyed after the autopsy for biosecurity reasons, following standard procedure.
Last year, Norwegian officials had advised citizens to avoid contact with Hvaldimir after he was sighted in a fjord near Oslo.