Whale rescue in Germany enters desperate new phase
The whale stranded off Germany’s northern coast is facing a critical new rescue attempt after weeks in shallow water near Poel Island in the Baltic Sea. The whale, a humpback nicknamed Timmy, has remained severely weakened since first being spotted at the beginning of March, with officials and rescuers now turning to air cushions and a tugboat in a last-ditch effort.
Air cushions, tarps, and a narrow window
Rescuers plan to use air cushions to lift the whale off the sea floor and onto a tarp attached to a tugboat, then move it toward deeper water and back toward the North Sea, with the possibility of reaching the Atlantic after that. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has described the method as minimally invasive, while wildlife experts have said any intervention still carries considerable risk after previous attempts failed.
The whale has been stranded for weeks in a shallow coastal area off the island of Poel. It was first seen in the Baltic Sea far from its natural habitat at the beginning of March, and officials say it is still showing signs of life but remains severely weakened.
Whale rescue effort draws private money and public attention
The rescue attempt has been backed by two multimillionaires who stepped forward to fund the latest operation, including Walter Gunz, founder of an electronics retailer chain. Gunz said that if rescuers do not act now, the whale would die, adding that trying gives the animal a chance of survival.
Till Backhaus, the environment minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, said the animal is not active and not agile, but still shows life. He also said the whale has suffered serious damage. State officials have approved the private initiative to transport the whale away from the Baltic Sea, and if the plan works, the tugboat carrying it could leave by Friday.
Why the situation remains critical
Officials have said the whale likely became entangled in netting before becoming stranded on a sandbank, while suffering from a skin condition linked to the lower salt levels of the Baltic Sea. Earlier efforts to guide the animal toward the North Sea failed when it veered toward shallower waters, and rescuers also used excavators to dig a channel to help it move free.
There has also been concern over misinformation and the pressure of public attention around the rescue zone. Authorities have established an exclusion area around the whale and have urged people to respect emergency services and protective measures as the next attempt begins.
What happens next
The immediate focus is whether the air cushions can safely refloat the whale without worsening its injuries. For now, the whale remains at the center of a race against time, with its survival still uncertain as rescuers attempt one more carefully judged intervention in the Baltic Sea.
