A humpback whale named Timmy, released into the North Sea off Denmark on Saturday, is presumed dead due to its weakened condition, according to marine experts.
Failed Rescue Operation
The humpback whale released into the North Sea off the coast of Denmark on Saturday is likely deceased, a spokesperson for the German Maritime Museum in Stralsund told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Tuesday.
With no data received from a tracking device reportedly attached to the animal, the rescue operation is being considered unsuccessful.
Whale’s Condition and Lack of Tracking Data
Given the whale’s extreme exhaustion and repeated strandings during previous rescue attempts, it is highly probable it lacked the strength to swim in deep water and has died, the spokesperson stated.
Neither the German Maritime Museum nor the Ministry of Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern currently have data from the transmitter that organizers of the private rescue operation claimed to have installed on the whale.
Conflicting Information About Transmitter
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung noted conflicting information regarding the transmitter intended to monitor the whale’s condition. Organizers spoke of a device monitoring vital functions, but scientists stated such a device would require a suction cup attachment, deemed impossible given the whale’s damaged skin.
A GPS transmitter would have required drilling into the whale’s tissue for attachment.
Last Confirmed Sightings
The German Maritime Museum indicated the last confirmed signs of life were drone photos from May 2nd, showing the humpback surfacing, breathing, and diving after being released from a barge in the Skagerrak strait.
However, the museum cautioned this does not indicate good health, as the whale may have been acting under the influence of adrenaline following transport.
Expert Warnings Ignored
Experts from the Maritime Museum and other marine biologists repeatedly warned against transporting the whale to the open sea, emphasizing the immense stress it would cause a weakened and potentially ill animal, with minimal chances of survival.
They anticipated the humpback would likely not survive in the open sea.
Private Rescue Effort and Public Interest
The fate of the approximately 12-ton humpback, named Timmy, had been closely followed by the public across Germany for weeks. The animal was first spotted near Timmendorfer Strand on the night of March 22nd, where it became stranded.
Timmy managed to free itself, but repeatedly became stuck on local sandbanks. Repeated attempts to free Timmy failed, and the increasingly weakened animal faced death.
Authorities Approve Controversial Operation
Despite scientists’ reservations, authorities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern agreed to the private rescue operation, funded in part by entrepreneur Karin Walter-Mommert and MediaMarkt co-founder Walter Gunz.
A special barge was brought in to transport the humpback from the Baltic Sea towards the North Sea, where it lay on a sandy bed covered with water and shaded from the sun. Organizers reported the whale was released into the North Sea off the coast of Denmark on Saturday and swam independently.
