A twelve-meter humpback whale named Timmy died on the coast of Poel Island, Germany, after a two-week stranding and unsuccessful rescue efforts.
Humpback Stranded for Nearly Two Weeks
A roughly twelve-meter-long humpback whale, Timmy, has been stranded off the coast of Poel Island, Germany, for almost two weeks. A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment in Schwerin, Claus Tantzen, reported that the whale was still breathing, but according to the “Focus” portal, it was doing so more slowly than in previous days.
Researchers are investigating whether this slowing is a sign of the animal’s impending death. According to “Die Welt” newspaper, a lack of reaction to boats is an indication that the humpback is dying, as stated by Bianca König of the German animal protection organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).
Rescue Attempt Abandoned
On Tuesday, Till Backhaus, the environmental minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, decided to leave the humpback stranded, based on a received report. “Die Welt” reports that the ministry received a private offer requesting permission to save Timmy, but it was rejected.
The ministry spokesperson stated that attempting a rescue would subject the animal to additional stress and that it would likely strand again in the future.
Euthanasia Ruled Out
According to the German Press Agency (DPA), euthanasia was also ruled out due to limited knowledge of its application to such large mammals. Shooting the humpback or placing an explosive charge underneath it were also considered, but “Focus” explained that these solutions are risky and ethically unacceptable, given the presence of observers.
Last-Ditch Effort to Mobilize Whale Fails
According to “Bild,” Minister Backhaus decided to make one last attempt to free the humpback. He contacted American marine biologists to determine if Timmy could be “mobilized with music, for example, by playing songs of other whales.”
Authorities planned that if the animal reacted and the water level rose by about 30 cm, the humpback could be pushed with boats. However, media reported on April 12th that the attempt to mobilize Timmy had failed.
Protests and Previous Research
The day before, on Saturday, demonstrators demanded the whale’s rescue. A group of around 20 people broke through a protective fence and ran towards the animal, forming a “human chain” by holding hands on the shore.
