A humpback whale known as Timmy swam free from a sandbank near Poel island on April 20 after weeks of repeated strandings in the Baltic Sea, only to become stuck again shortly afterward.
The 15-ton whale, first sighted stranded in Lübeck Bay in late March, has cycled through brief periods of freedom followed by renewed groundings, most recently near Wismar Bay and again off Poel.
Environmental officials confirmed the fishing net found in the whale’s mouth originated outside Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, stating such gear types are not used in regional fisheries.
Minister Till Backhaus described the animal as being in poor condition but showing signs of activity, noting it remains a critical patient despite moments of movement.
Rescue efforts using excavators and tubes to clear sand beneath the whale continue, though a private initiative’s original plan to lift it with air cushions and pontoons for transport to the North Sea has been abandoned.
Backhaus said the whale’s ability to swim freely when unstranded renders the lifting concept obsolete, adding that a new strategy is under development.
The initiative’s lead advisor, Sergio Bambaren, estimated the whale’s survival odds at 50-50, calling the most recent stranding a panic reaction triggered by a nearby support boat.
Experts including Berlin-based marine biologist Fabian Ritter have opposed further intervention, citing extreme stress on the animal, a view echoed by Greenpeace.
For more on this story, see Humpback Whale Timmy Stranded Off German Island Poel Amid New Rescue Effort.
Meanwhile, the animal’s prolonged struggle has drawn public attention, with Backhaus proposing a memorial on Poel island—possibly a bronze statue—to serve as a warning to humans about marine neglect.
A veterinarian on the rescue team, Dr. Kerstin Tönnies, became emotional when Backhaus referenced her colleague Janine Bahr-van Gemmert, who remains in a coma at Rostock University Hospital after a separate incident.
The Naturschutzbund (Nabu) warned that the whale’s suffering reflects broader ecological decline in the Baltic, citing nutrient pollution, overfishing, industrial activity, and waste as factors turning the sea into a hazardous environment for marine life.
Despite ongoing debate and shifting tactics, rescuers maintain daily monitoring, with pontoons and tow vessels still on standby should a revised plan emerge.
Why was the original rescue plan abandoned?
The plan to lift the whale with air cushions and pontoons was dropped after the animal demonstrated it could swim freely when not stranded, making the lifting approach unnecessary and potentially harmful.
What is the current state of the whale’s health?
The whale is in poor condition but shows intermittent activity, such as breathing and spouting, though experts stress it remains a critically ill patient under constant observation.
Is the fishing net in the whale’s mouth from local fisheries?
No, Minister Till Backhaus confirmed the net type found in the whale’s mouth is not used in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern fisheries and originated elsewhere.