Beluga whale seen playing catch in viral video ‘may have escaped Russian military spy programme'

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A beluga whale that was filmed “playing catch” with a group of South African rugby fans may have escaped from a Russian military spy programme, according to researchers. Experts suggest the whale could be Hvaldimir, a malnourished male beluga who is thought to be a lost “spy” animal trained by the Russian Navy. “This is likely Hvaldimir, a once captive whale who may have escaped a Russian military programme,” Ferris Jabr, a science writer for the New York Times and Scientific American, said of the video. “That he's malnourished & still dependent on humans for food are likely reasons for what appears to be ‘playful’ behaviour.” Earlier this year, another viral video showed Hvaldimir helping to retrieve an iPhone that was dropped into the water near him.