The beluga whale known as Hvaldimir, which was found dead off Norway's coast, has been the subject of a new BBC documentary suggesting it may have been a Russian 'guard whale' rather than a spy. Initially discovered in 2019 wearing a harness with 'Equipment St Petersburg' on it, the whale sparked speculation about its role in espionage. The documentary 'Secrets of the Spy Whale' reveals after 10 months of investigation that Hvaldimir might have been trained to protect sensitive Arctic locations, raising questions about Russia's intentions in the region. Experts interviewed suggest that similar to dolphins used historically by navies, the whale may have been trained to detect intruders using its acute hearing. Although some animal rights activists speculated foul play in Hvaldimir's death, an autopsy found no evidence of shooting, only a stick lodged in the whale's mouth. This discovery adds to the long-standing intrigue over Russia's use of marine life for military purposes.