Rescue teams in northern Germany on Tuesday guided a stranded humpback whale nicknamed Timmy into a specially adapted freight barge as part of a bid to lead the animal back to the Atlantic. Experts believe the whale lost its way after entering the Baltic Sea in early March.
Timmy had been trapped in shallow waters for more than a month, spending the last weeks in a small bay off the island of Poel. After hopes for the whale’s recovery dimmed, a private company convinced local authorities to attempt one last rescue using the barge as a floating corridor to deeper water.
After several hours of careful work, crews encouraged Timmy to swim a short distance and enter a submerged holding area within the barge early Tuesday afternoon. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania environment minister Till Backhaus said that “when the sea calms, he will begin his journey in the direction of the North Sea — and then he will return to his natural habitat.” The plan calls for the converted freight vessel Robin Hood, supported by the tug Fortuna B, to steer the whale toward the North Sea or possibly farther toward the Atlantic.
Rescuers used ropes and steady guidance to coax Timmy into position. Backhaus, who has been intensively involved in the operation, said he nearly waded in to help the whale with the final meters. He defended continuing the rescue despite criticism from some animal-rights and marine groups that the whale was near death, saying teams worked around the clock and ultimately saved the animal. Opponents have accused him of seeking publicity after officials had earlier prepared for the whale not to survive and then approved a privately run effort.
Veterinarians remain cautious about Timmy’s prospects. It is not yet known how the whale will tolerate being moved or whether illnesses picked up during weeks in the lower-salinity Baltic waters can be overcome. Veterinarian Kirsten Tönnies, who stepped in when the lead veterinary officer fell ill, described herself as a temporary support without specialized whale expertise but said the animal was enticed into the barge without excessive force and that she had not advised halting the operation. She added that the whale was “in no way a doomed animal” and still had a chance at recovery.
Timmy has frequently been exposed to hot sun while stranded along the northern German coast. The success of the transport and the whale’s ability to recover after the journey remain uncertain, and teams will monitor the animal closely as the operation proceeds.