Refer Report

A beluga whale named Valdimir, who was recently found dead after being suspected of being a ‘Russian spy’, is now being claimed to have been shot to death.

According to AFP and other sources on the 4th (local time), animal rights groups ‘Noah’ and ‘One Whale’, which have been tracking Valdimir, claimed that upon checking Valdimir’s body, gunshot wounds were found in multiple places.

The groups said they had filed a petition with Norwegian police asking them to swiftly launch an investigation, alleging criminal activity.

Meanwhile, Marine Mind, another Valdimir monitoring group that initially discovered Valdimir’s body, said there were no traces at the time of discovery that could determine the cause of death.

“We have seen some visible marks, but it is too early to say what they are,” group leader Sebastian Strand told AFP. “They could have been wounds inflicted by seabirds, and only an autopsy will be able to tell the exact cause of death.”

Valdimir, who had been in the public eye due to suspicions that he was a ‘Russian spy’, was found dead in the sea off Risavika, southwest Norway, on the 31st of last month. Valdimir’s body was transferred to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute for an autopsy on the 2nd, and the autopsy report is expected to be released in three weeks.

Valdimir was first discovered in the spring of 2019 in the Finnmark region of northern Norway. When first discovered, it was wearing a holder for an action camera and a belt that read “St. Petersburg equipment,” leading to speculation that it had undergone spy training by the Russian Navy. However, Russia has not made any statements regarding Valdimir.

Valdimir has been seen frequently off the coast of Norway and Sweden for the past five years and is believed to be between 15 and 20 years old. Belugas have a lifespan of 40 to 60 years. Marine Mind reported that over the past five years, Valdimir has shown interest in people and has responded to hand signals, appearing to be handled.

Source: Korean