The death of Hvaldimir, a well-known white beluga whale, has sparked speculation and concern in Norway, with animal rights groups suggesting that the whale may have been killed on purpose.
Hvaldimir was found dead over the weekend in southern Norway. Two animal rights organizations OneWhale and NOAH allege that the whale had been “shot to death.” Both organizations are urging authorities to conduct a formal investigation.
“Several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts have reviewed [the] evidence of Hvaldimir’s injuries, determining that the whale’s death was the result of a criminal act,” OneWhale posted on social media.
The post included images of what appeared to be bullet wounds and blood on the whale’s body, though these claims have not yet been independently verified.
OneWhale and NOAH have officially reported the incident to both the Sandnes Police District and the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime. The local police department confirmed receiving the request but has not yet decided whether to open a formal investigation.
“I don’t think we’ve had a case like this before,” stated Southwestern Police District Superintendent Victor Fenne-Jensen, saying that Hvaldimir had become “kind of a celebrity.”
Another organization, Marine Mind, which advocates for marine life protection, has urged the public to avoid speculating until the Norwegian Veterinary Institute completes its investigation into Hvaldimir’s death. Marine Mind was responsible for finding the whale’s body in the bay. “When we found Hvaldimir on Saturday, it was not possible to immediately determine the cause of death, and therefore it is important to refrain from speculation until the institute has completed its work,” the organization stated.
Before his death, efforts were being made by OneWhale and NOAH to relocate Hvaldimir to a safer location in northern Norway, with permits obtained from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries. The beluga was discovered floating at Risavika Bay by a father and son who were fishing, according to a report by the AP. His body was later retrieved using a crane and taken to a nearby harbor for examination by experts.
Hvaldimir first made headlines in 2019 when he was spotted wearing a harness, leading to speculation that he had been trained by the Russian military. Jorgen Ree Wiig of Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries told CNN at the time that the harness appeared to be “specially made.”
Despite these theories, the exact cause of Hvaldimir’s death remains unclear. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand stated that there were no obvious external injuries and further investigation is required to determine what led to the whale’s death.
