Yahoo News Russian 'spy whale' is making itself at home in Norway, posing for photos and playing 'fetch'
A whale suspected of being a spy for Russia appears to have defected - seeming happy to stay in Norway.
The beluga whale, which was spotted in northern Norway with a harness appeared to be used for carrying a camera, seems reticent to return to Russia, sticking close to the harbour where it was found.
The whale has become so popular that Norwegian public broadcaster NRK has launched a poll to find a name for it.
Linn Sæther, a resident of Tufjord on the Arctic island of Rolvsøya, told the broadcaster: “He’s so comfortable with people that when you call him he comes right up to you.”
Sæther said locals had been able to pet the whale and it also performs tricks, retrieving rings then swimming up to the dockside for praise.
“It reacts when you call it or splash your hands in the water. You can see it’s been trained to fetch and bring back whatever is thrown for it.”
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The beluga whale was found on Sunday wearing a harness fitted with a mount that was reportedly stamped with the words: “Equipment St Petersburg”, sparking speculation that it could be a Russian ‘spy’ or may have escaped from a Russian military facility.
Russia has reportedly denied running a sea mammal special operations programme and Norway’s special police security agency (PST) has not yet reached a conclusion on where the whale came from.
