---
title: "The Suspected Russian Spy Whale Is Acting Weird"
description: "## Spy Games"
date: "2019-05-02"
modified: "2019-05-02"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-spy-whale-acting-weird"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "military"
  - "Russia"
  - "spy"
  - "the digest"
  - "whale"
---

# The Suspected Russian Spy Whale Is Acting Weird

![A suspected Russian spy whale has made itself a fixture of a Norwegian port community, fetching rings for locals and even letting them pet its nose.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/russian-spy-whale-strange-behavior.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Steve Snodgrass via Wikimedia Commons/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Spy Games

If the white whale recently discovered in Norway really is a [Russian spy](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/whale-russian-weapon-found-norway>), it's doing a stellar job of gaining the locals' trust.

Jorgen Ree Wiig, an official for the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, [told *The Washington Post*](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/02/authorities-alleged-russian-spy-whale-is-refusing-leave-seeking-norwegians-devotion/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0871e072f246>) that the mammal has refused to leave the port city where fishers discovered it — despite being free to do so.

Instead, it's made itself a fixture of the community by [fetching rings](<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beluga-whale-linked-to-russian-military-is-affectionate-fetches-rings-for-locals-in-norway/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>) tossed into the water and even going so far as to allow humans to pet its nose, a behavior Wiig calls "strange" for its species.

https://youtu.be/tLTSDx8lFfo

## On the Move

Although fishers discovered the alleged spy whale wearing a harness bearing the words "Equipment of St. Petersburg," Russia has thus far denied that it's part of a military mission.

"If we were using this animal for spying, do you really think we'd attach a mobile phone number with the message 'please call this number'?" Colonel Viktor Baranets, a Russian military expert, told Russian broadcaster *Govorit Moskva*, [according to a *BBC* report](<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48090616>).

Spy or not, Norwegian officials want to make sure the whale stays healthy — which is why they're now mulling whether to transport it to an Icelandic sanctuary, Wiig told *WaPo.*

**READ MORE:** [Authorities: Alleged Russian spy whale is refusing to leave and seeking Norwegians’ devotion](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/02/authorities-alleged-russian-spy-whale-is-refusing-leave-seeking-norwegians-devotion/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0871e072f246>) \[*The Washington Post*\]

**More on the whale:** *[Whale Suspected of Being a Russian Weapon Found in Norway ](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/whale-russian-weapon-found-norway>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)