Russian 'spy whale' in Norway wasn’t shot dead, likely died of bacterial infection

The tame beluga was first spotted in 2019 not far from Russian waters with a harness reading 'Equipment St. Petersburg.' It was found floating in a southern Norway bay on Aug. 31

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A beluga whale that lived off Norway’s coast and whose harness ignited speculation that it was a Russian spy, was not shot to death as claimed by animal rights groups but died of a bacterial infection, Norwegian police said Friday.

A final autopsy by Norway’s Veterinary Institute “concludes that the probable cause of death was bacterial infection — possibly as a result of a wound in the mouth from a stuck stick,” Amund Preede Revheim, head of the North Sea and Environment section of the police in south-western Norway said.