Beluga whale rumoured to be Russian spy found dead

The beluga whale was first spotted in 2019 (Jorgen Ree Wiig/ Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries/AP)

A white beluga whale named Hvaldimir who was first spotted not far from Russian waters with a harness and ignited rumours he may be a Moscow spy, has been found dead.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported the whale carcass was found floating at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway on Saturday by a father and son who were fishing.