So long, Hvaldimir. If you’ve been hiding under a rock since 2019 it might have escaped your attention that beluga whale Hvaldimir, once thought to be a Russian “spy” turned Norwegian retiree, was found dead over the weekend.

Hvaldimir first rose to public attention in 2019 when he was seen wearing a harness presumably meant for a camera with the words “Equipment St Petersburg” written on it. He was nicknamed after the Russian president Vladmir Putin and the Norwegian word for whale, hval. While rumors appeared that Hvaldimir was a Russian spy whale, Russia never claimed this or admitted to any training. Even so, Hvaldimir was exceptionally friendly and comfortable around people, leading many to believe that he had spent significant time in captivity. 

“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world. Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he also taught us more about ourselves,” wrote the Marine Mind charity on social media. 

The whale's body was found floating in the Risavika Bay in Southern Norway on Saturday, August 31 by a father and son duo who were fishing. The body was then lifted out of the water via crane and will be examined at a nearby port by experts during a necropsy. At the moment there appears to be no obvious cause of death. 

The marine biologist and founder and CEO of the charity Marine Mind Sebastian Strand, who has been involved in watching Hvaldimir’s adventures and campaigning to offer him a safe haven in a Norwegian ford, spoke to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It’s absolutely horrible,” Strand said. “He was apparently in good condition as of [Friday], so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”

Beluga whales can live up to 90 years in the wild, and estimates suggest that Hvaldimir was only around 15 years old when he died.