Russian 'spy whale' was not shot, say police

Animal rights groups had claimed that the beluga, nicknamed Hvaldimir, had been shot when he was found dead on 1 September.

A beloved whale thought to have been trained as a “spy” by Russia and found dead earlier this month was not shot, a police autopsy has found.

Animal rights groups had claimed that the beluga, nicknamed Hvaldimir, had been shot when he was found dead on 1 September.

But a forensic examination has concluded “human activity” did not directly lead to the death of the animal, which had died after a stick became lodged in its mouth.

Hvaldmir rose to fame in April 2019 when he was found in Norwegian waters with a camera strapped to his body, prompting claims he could be a spy of sorts.

A beloved whale thought to have been trained as a “spy” by Russia and found dead earlier this month was not shot, a police autopsy has found.

Animal rights groups had claimed that the beluga, nicknamed Hvaldimir, had been shot when he was found dead on 1 September.

But a forensic examination has concluded “human activity” did not directly lead to the death of the animal, which had died after a stick became lodged in its mouth.

Hvaldmir rose to fame in April 2019 when he was found in Norwegian waters with a camera strapped to his body, prompting claims he could be a spy of sorts.