The mystery deepens.
RIP Hvaldimir
In 2019, a purported "Russian spy beluga" stole our hearts — and now, we must mourn its early demise.
The 2,000-pound sea creature, later dubbed Hvaldimir, was found by Norwegian fishermen with a camera mount harness that read "Equipment of St. Petersburg," resulting in intrigue and speculation.
Over the last five years, Hvaldimir has been the subject of several viral stories, from the time it retrieved a GoPro to playing fetch.
But over the weekend, the jolly beluga was found dead — and animal activists are in disagreement about how he died.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Hvaldimir’s passing," Norwegian non-profit Marine Mind, which has been tracking the whale's whereabouts, wrote in an Instagram post. "This morning, after receiving a sighting report from a local, our team arrived to find Hvaldimir floating peacefully in the water."
"It is not immediately clear what caused his death," he continued, and a "necropsy will be conducted to determine his early passing."
Suspicious Circumstances
The events surrounding the whale's death remain shrouded in mystery — which is only fitting considering his much-debated "Russian spy" past.
Hvaldimir was estimated to be around 14 to 15 years old, only roughly half of the average lifespan of a beluga whale.
Last year, marine science student and whale tracker Emma Luck noted that Hvaldimir's appearance had changed dramatically, tweeting that "you can see how much weight he has lost."
In May of last year, scientists raised concerns that the whale was possibly not eating enough fish.
While Marine Mind founder Sebastian Strand told AFP that there were no signs of visible injuries, nonprofit One Whale founder Regina Raug referred to "holes pouring with blood from his body" in an Instagram video.
"We got to visit Hvaldimir today ourselves and see him and say goodbye, and there was no question that he was dying from something very unnatural and heartbreaking," she said.
Fortunately, we'll hopefully soon hear more.
"The autopsy is conducted by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, and the conclusion will be public in two or three weeks," the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries told People in a statement.
Speculation aside, it's an unfortunate end to a much-beloved creature.
"Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature," Marine Mind wrote in its Instagram post. "Rest in peace, Hvaldimir. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten."
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