A large whale remains trapped in shallow water off Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, with rescue attempts so far unsuccessful, authorities said on Tuesday.
The roughly 10-meter (32-foot) mammal failed to free itself during the high tide overnight, a police spokesman said. It was first spotted early on Monday near Niendorf in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Early signs suggest it may be a humpback whale — one of the largest animals on earth, recognizable by its long pectoral fins.
A marine conservation group says the mammal is likely a young male on migration (March 23, 2026) Image: Ulrich Perrey/dpa/picture alliance
Large-scale rescue efforts continue
Rescue teams have worked since midday Monday to dislodge the whale from a sandbank, using boats to create waves, drones, and assistance from volunteers and specialists.
While they have not succeeded in refloating it, responders did manage to remove some netting that had become wrapped around the animal’s body.
Public broadcaster NDR reported that the whale was heard making “deep, muffled” sounds at times and appeared weak. Police set up barriers on shore to keep onlookers from disturbing the rescue operation.
Dozens of onlookers stood on the rocky shore to observe the stranded whale (March 23, 2026) Image: Ulrich Perrey/dpa/picture alliance
It remains unclear why the whale entered the Baltic bay’s shallow water. Stephanie Gross from the Hanover-based Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research said it could be ill, injured, exhausted, or simply unlucky.
Sea Shepherd believes the animal is likely a young male on migration and may be the same whale that was sighted in the area earlier this month.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery