'Russian Spy' Suspected Beluga Whale Finds Gunshot wounds in body
Sep 05, 2024
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According to foreign media such as the New York Post, an animal protection organization called 「Noah and One Whale」 (Noah and One Whale) confirmed the body of Valdimir and found gunshot wounds in several places.
Valdimir's body was taken to the Norwegian Veterinary Laboratory for an autopsy on the 2nd, and an accurate autopsy report will be released three weeks later.
Siri Martinson, veterinarian and head of an animal rights group, said the "traces left on Valdimir's body are shocking" and that the police should intervene quickly and thoroughly investigate" he insisted.
Earlier, Valdimir's body was seen on the 31st of last month (local time) in the Gulf of Lisavika in southern Norway.
Marine Mind, who has been monitoring Valdimir for the past three years, said "Until the day before, he was clearly in good health. We will find out what happened here.'
Beluga whales typically have a lifespan of 40 to 60 years, and Valdimir was estimated to be 14 to 15 years old. Valdimir's body was 4.2 meters long and weighed 1225 kilograms.
Meanwhile, Valdimir was first seen by fishermen near the northern Norwegian island of Inghoya in April 2019.
At the time, it was speculated that he had been spy-trained by the Russian Navy, as he was fitted with a holder capable of mounting a small camera and a band marked 'St Petersburg Equipment'.
However, Norwegian media estimated that "Waldimir was likely used in Russia as a kind of 'therapy whale'".
In this regard, Russia has not expressed any position.
In the years that followed, Valdimir was found in many parts of the Norwegian coast, and became popular for being very gentle and appearing to like to play with people.
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