Why did the legendary “spy whale” die: the cause of death was established in Norway

The police released the final report on Hvaldymir's autopsy.

Animal protection organizations informed the police about their suspicions that the legendary “spy whale”, who escaped from Russia five years ago and settled near the coast of Norway, was the victim of a human crime. On behalf of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, the Veterinary Institute conducted an autopsy on Hvaldymir's body and handed over the results to the law enforcement officers.

Sør-West Police District of Norway informed about this.

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“The investigation of the Veterinary Institute was complicated by the fact that , that the whale's internal organs had already begun to decompose. The report concluded that the likely cause of the beluga's death was a bacterial infection, possibly as a result of a wound in the mouth from a stuck stick,” – the police report says.

Specialists of the Veterinary Institute noted that the wound in the mouth could also complicate Khvaldymir's eating process, which increased the risk of infection and could undermine his strength and immunity. According to Amund Pryde Röwheim, head of the North Sea and Environment Unit at the Sør West Police District, an autopsy found no signs that the whale had been shot.

The report also noted that lacerations on beluga skin, which were found in the posterior thoracic region, abdomen, one anterior crank, and caudal fin, were superficial and likely caused by birds. The autopsy did not reveal any gunshot wounds, so the police will not start an investigation into the whale's death.