A beluga whale wearing a harness was spotted by fishermen off Norway’s coast, and is suspected of belonging to the Russian navy.
Audun Rikardsen, a professor at the department of arctic and marine biology at the Arctic University of Norway, told the national broadcaster it could been part of a Russian intelligence programme.
“We know that in Russia they have had domestic whales in captivity and also that some of these have apparently been released. Then they often seek out boats,” he said.
It’s the first time a whale has been accused of spying, but not the first time any animals may have been used to gather intelligence.
Sky News looks at some other animals which have been used for spying.
