Beluga Whale Found With Russian Harness Alarms Norwegian Military

A beluga whale seen as it swims next to a fishing boat before Norwegian fishermen removed the tight harness, swimming off the northern Norwegian coast Friday, April 26, 2019. The harness strap which features a mount for an action camera, says "Equipment St. Petersburg" which has prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. Joergen Ree Wiig/Norwegian Direcorate of Fisheries Sea Surveillance Unit via AP

A beluga whale was discovered with a harness around its body that apparently was Russian-made, sparking alarm from Norwegian officials that the animal escaped a military facility in Russia, according to reports on April 29.

Joergen Ree Wiig, a marine biologist from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, said that “Equipment St. Petersburg” was written on the harness, ABC News reported. The harness featured a mount for a camera.