Whale alleged to be Russian ‘spy’ died after stick became lodged in its mouth, say police

Animal rights groups had claimed beluga named Hvaldimir, which was found dead last month, had been shot

A beluga whale that rose to fame in Norway after its unusual harness prompted suspicions that the creature was trained by Russia as a spy died after a stick became stuck in its mouth, police have said.

The lifeless body of the whale, named Hvaldimir - a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and the first name of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin - was found floating in the sea on 31 August by a father and son fishing in Risavika Bay, southern Norway.