A Russian "spy whale" who rose to fame when he was found off the coast of Norway in 2019 may have been shot to death, according to animal rights organisations.
Hvaldimir, a beluga whale, was found dead in a bay in southern Norway last week.
OneWhale and NOAH, two prominent animal rights organisations, suspect he was deliberately killed and suffered gunshot wounds.
Warning: This story contains graphic images.
Claims beloved beluga shot to death
OneWhale and NOAH have filed a police report in Norway and are urging authorities to investigate what they believe is intentional human-inflicted injury.
While the official autopsy report is still pending, preliminary findings seem to indicate that the whale was killed by a gunshot wound, the animal rights groups say.
Several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts have reviewed photographic evidence, including close-ups of Hvaldimir's injuries.
The images show at least five circular shaped holes in his body and experts say this means deliberate gunshot wounds from a criminal act cannot be ruled out.
"The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act — it is shocking," said Siri Martinsen, veterinarian and leader of NOAH.
"Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police are involved quickly. Hvaldimir was significant to many, and all facts must be brought to light regarding his death."
Non-profit organisation OneWhale, which is described as a "public safety program" for Hvaldimir, said they were confident Hvaldimir had been killed.
But other theories on Hvaldimir's cause of death claim he died of natural causes and the circular wounds were created by seabirds afterwards.
Outpouring of grief over Hvaldimir's death
On August 31, Hvaldimir was found floating in the sea by a father and son who were out fishing for mackerel.
They decided to move him to land and tied a rope around his tail to drag him ashore to Risavika Port.
Here Hvaldimir was lifted out of the water by a crane and the Directorate of Fisheries and the Institute of Marine Research ordered a necropsy.
His death has caused an outpouring of grief in Norway and across the world.
There were plans for Hvaldimir to be relocated further offshore, in an area with less traffic where he might join a nearby pod of belugas, before his death.
OneWhale had secured permission from the Norwegian government to organise and fundraise for his relocation.
Why was Hvaldimir famous?
Hvaldimir was found wearing a harness that looked like it had a small camera mount and was marked with the words "Equipment St Petersburg" in Russian in April 2019.
He seemed to be comfortable around humans and was very friendly, leading to suspicions he was a whale sent to spy for Russia.
He was soon nicknamed "Hvaldimir" — a combination of the Norwegian word for "whale" and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It is not the first time Russians have allegedly used marine animals for this purpose — the country's navy has reportedly trained dolphins and whales.
The Kremlin has never responded to the allegations, but it is generally believed that Hvaldimir was living in captivity before he was escaped to Norway.
He became an internet sensation and unregulated tourism tours emerged for people who wanted to catch a glimpse of him.
Hvaldimir spent years swimming up and down the north coast of Norway.
But when he migrated to the Swedish coast last year, concerns were raised that he was lonely and trying to seek out human companionship.
