Activists Fury After Alleged ‘Russian Spy’ Whale’s Cause of Death Revealed

Norwegian police have dismissed claims from local animal rights organizations that the death of a beluga whale suspected of being used as a Russian spy was a deliberate act.

Dubbed “Hvaldimir”—which combines the Norwegian word for whale with part of the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin—the whale was discovered dead in waters off southwestern Norway on Aug. 31.

Hvaldimir gained worldwide attention after the animal was spotted...