The tame beluga had been nicknamed "Hvaldimir," combining the Norwegian word for whale - hval - and the first name of Russia's president.

A beluga whale found dead in Norway in August, suspected by some of being a Russian spy, probably died of an infection and not gunshot wounds, Norwegian police said Friday. "The report concluded that the probable cause of death was a bacterial infection,

Animal rights groups questioned the report’s conclusion that there were no human-caused injuries, and they called for further police investigation.

Beluga Hvaldimir, known worldwide for his suspected role as a Russian spy, was found dead off the coast of Norway last month. Animal welfare organizations feared it may have been a criminal act. The estimated 4.

A beluga whale that lived off Norway`s coast, who raised speculation that it was a Russian spy due to its harness, was not shot dead as claimed by animal rights groups but instead died of a bacterial infection,