Rescue teams in northern Germany are working to refloat a stranded humpback whale in shallow water in the Baltic Sea. According to Euronews, Sven Biertümpfel of Sea Shepherd described the situation as critical, noting the whale's condition is worsening rapidly, though the exact current health status and prognosis beyond general deterioration remain unclear. The whale has been spotted several times in the port of Wismar in recent weeks, but whether these sightings are directly related to the stranding is unknown.
The whale is a young male measuring about 12 meters (30 feet) long and weighing approximately 15 tonnes, according to multiple reports. Carsten Mannheimer of Sea Shepherd reported that the whale is still alive, breathing, making sounds, and occasionally lifting its head, but its physical state is declining. The exact cause of the stranding is not confirmed, though parts of a fishing net were found wrapped around the whale's body and were cut off during rescue efforts.
If the whale can't get off the beach, it's a death sentence for the animal.
Rescue attempts have faced significant challenges, with low tides hampering efforts, according to major media. A high tide around midnight was not sufficient for the whale to swim free, and efforts on Monday afternoon involving police boats, inflatable boats, and firefighter drones were unsuccessful. Rescuers initially turned the whale so its head pointed toward deeper water, but it turned back, and boats from the coastguard and fire department passed by to create waves without success. How long the whale has been stranded before rescue efforts began is not specified.
Experts gathered on Tuesday morning on Timmendorfer Strand beach to find a way to free the whale, but they caution that forceful methods could cause serious injury. According to Euronews, Ulli Fritz Gerlach, a police spokesperson, described the importance of minimizing stress on the animal to prevent further harm. The whale cannot be pulled back into the sea because it could be seriously injured, experts noted, and what specific rescue methods are being planned or attempted next is still under discussion.
It is very important that the animal does not become even more stressed.
Logistical measures have been implemented, with police cordoning off the beach area with construction fences to keep onlookers at bay. According to Euronews, Stefan Stauch, an onlooker from a nearby village, described the whale's plight, expressing hope for its rescue and noting that the rising tide during the night did not free it. The whale's recent history includes multiple sightings in the port of Wismar, adding context to the ongoing rescue operation.
Poor thing. I hope he can still be saved.
We had hoped that the rising tide during the night would free him, but that didn't work out.