Representatives of a number of animal rights organisations said that the beluga whale Khvaldymir, dubbed the “Russian spy”, died from a gunshot wound.

Animal rights activists Noah and One Whale say the whale’s body, discovered off the coast of Norway on August 31, was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Representatives of animal protection groups have filed a complaint with Norwegian police, demanding an investigation.

Doubts about the whale’s natural death were also increased by the fact that Khvaldimir’s estimated age was 15 to 20 years, a relatively small figure for a beluga whale that can live for 40 to 60 years.

The famous whale was given the title of “Russian spy” after fishermen noticed the animal in Norwegian waters in the spring of 2019. The cat was wearing a seat belt suitable for attaching an action camera, and the buckle bore the words Equipment St. Petersburg (“Equipment St. Petersburg”).