Rescue teams in Germany are preparing an innovative air cushion operation in a final attempt to save a humpback whale stranded for weeks in the Baltic Sea. The whale, affectionately nicknamed Timmy, has been trapped in shallow waters off the island of Poel since early March, far from its natural ocean habitat.
A private company plans to use inflatable devices—similar to large arm bands—to lift the injured whale from the seafloor by its flippers onto a tarp, which will then be towed by a tugboat. The goal is to guide the weakened mammal around Denmark's coast into the North Sea, and potentially onward to the Atlantic.
Till Backhaus, environment minister for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, described this as a "minimally invasive" approach following a reassessment of the whale's condition. "The prognosis remains critical," Backhaus stated. "But a chance of survival cannot be completely ruled out. Against this background, it is justifiable to allow this attempt."
Wildlife experts from the German Oceanographic Museum and the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research have expressed grave concerns, noting the whale suffers from severe injuries including skin detachments, likely internal organ damage from prolonged body weight pressure, and wounds suggesting contact with a ship propeller and fishing net. They previously concluded survival chances were "very low."
Greenpeace Germany has declined to support the latest rescue effort, citing the animal's poor health. Previous attempts included using excavators to dig escape channels, but the whale repeatedly returned to shallow waters.
The whale's plight has captured international attention, leading to an exclusion zone around the animal after a 67-year-old woman jumped from a boat to approach it over the weekend. Authorities have warned against "wild conspiracy theories and misinformation" spreading online.
"The outpouring of sympathy shows how deeply the animal's fate moves people," Backhaus acknowledged. "At the same time, I ask that you respect the work of the emergency services and adhere to the existing protective measures."
It remains unclear how the humpback whale entered the Baltic Sea, where lower salt levels have exacerbated its skin condition. The rescue operation represents what may be the last hope for Timmy's survival.