(CNN) For centuries, human beings have made use of animals' highly evolved capabilities, from the strength of horses to the hunting ability of birds of prey. Now, a discovery in Norway has turned the focus to the training of animals for military purposes.

Fishermen off Norway's northern coast were astonished last week when they spotted a beluga whale wearing a harness, complete with mounts for a camera. Marine experts say the mammal's backstory may be even stranger.

Marine experts say the beluga whale may have been trained by the Russian military.

They believe it was trained by the Russian military.

Its harness appeared "specially made," with "mounts for GoPro cameras on each side of it," said Jorgen Ree Wiig, a marine biologist at Norway's Directorate of Fisheries.

The harness clips read "Equipment St. Petersburg." Wiig believes the whale came from Murmansk, Russia, and was trained by the Russian navy.

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