Humpback Whale Successfully Released into Open Waters After Baltic Sea Stranding

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:34:00 +0200

A humpback whale, nicknamed Timmy by German media, has been safely released into the North Sea after being stranded in shallow waters near Germany's Baltic Sea coast since early March. Initially far from its natural Atlantic habitat, the whale repeatedly became stuck, prompting a global livestream of rescue efforts. Despite some scientific caution, a private initiative, approved by Germany’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania environment minister, transported Timmy on a barge approximately 45 miles from Denmark’s Skagen coast to open waters. Veterinarians involved confirmed the whale was fit for the journey, and a GPS transmitter was attached to monitor its future movements. Experts are uncertain why Timmy entered the Baltic Sea, suggesting possible disorientation during feeding or migration. The whale had been visibly weakened, suffering irregular breathing, minimal movement, and skin issues due to the sea's low salinity, treated with zinc ointment. The rescue sparked public debate, with a