Beluga Whale Found Dead in Norwegian Waters, Death Not Linked to Human Activity

OSLO - Norwegian authorities have announced that the beluga whale found dead in Norwegian waters last month had a stick stuck in its mouth, and its death was not related to human activity. The whale, named Hvaldimir, had gained global attention back in 2019 when it was discovered wearing a harness with what appeared to be a mount for a small camera.

Hvaldimir's body was spotted floating in the sea by a father and son who were fishing in southern Norway approximately a week ago. The discovery led to heightened speculation about the cause of the whale's demise, with initial concerns raised by animal rights groups.

An autopsy conducted by the South West district police revealed that a 35 cm long stick measuring 3 cm wide was stuck in the whale's mouth. The examination also showed that the whale's stomach was empty and most of its organs had already broken down.

Based on these findings, Norwegian police have concluded that Hvaldimir's death was not a result of direct human intervention. The police stated in a press release, "There is nothing in the investigations that have been carried out to establish that it is human activity that has directly led to Hvaldimir's death." Therefore, they have decided not to pursue any further investigations into the incident.

The animal rights groups, which had suspected that the whale had been shot dead, have been informed by the authorities regarding the results of the autopsy. The police reconfirmed that Hvaldimir had sustained some injuries, but they were described as "completely superficial" and there was no evidence to support the claim that the whale had been shot.

Hvaldimir's story had become a subject of media attention due to the mysterious harness found on the animal, leading to speculations that it might have been a Russian spy. The whale's unique name, a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and Russian President Vladimir Putin's first name, only added fuel to the playful conspiracy theories.

With the investigation now concluded, the fate of Hvaldimir remains a tragic event but devoid of any conspiracies or foul play. Authorities will continue to monitor the marine environment in Norwegian waters to ensure the safety and well-being of its diverse aquatic inhabitants.