Mystery Surrounds Hvaldimir's Death

A beluga whale named Hvaldimir, discovered in Norwegian waters with a harness five years ago and found dead on Aug. 31, did not die due to human activity, according to Norway police. A stick was found in its mouth. Hvaldimir was spotted by a father and son while fishing in southern Norway.

Norway police have concluded that the death of Hvaldimir, a beluga whale associated with Russian espionage, was not caused by human actions. The whale, which gained notoriety five years ago for being found with a harness in Norwegian waters, was discovered dead on August 31.

The police reported that a stick was found lodged in the whale's mouth, but confirmed that this did not contribute to its death. Hvaldimir was named after a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The body of Hvaldimir was discovered floating in the sea by a father and son who were fishing in southern Norway. The incident had sparked considerable attention, but authorities assure that humans were not responsible for the whale's demise.