Rescuers Plan Air Cushion Strategy to Free Stranded Humpback Whale
Efforts are underway to free a humpback whale stranded off Germany's northern coast using air cushions, despite previous unsuccessful attempts.
Rescuers are preparing to use air cushions in an effort to free a humpback whale stranded off Germany's northern coast for several weeks. The whale, referred to as "Timmy" by local media, was first observed in the Baltic Sea in early March, far from its typical habitat, and is currently stuck in shallow waters near the island of Poel.
A private company plans to refloat the injured mammal by placing air cushions under its flippers and onto a tarp connected to a tugboat, according to officials. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania described this as a "minimally invasive" approach. However, wildlife experts have cautioned that any intervention carries significant risk, especially after previous rescue attempts were unsuccessful.
The whale is still showing signs of life but is severely weakened, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said. "The prognosis remains critical. But a chance of survival cannot be completely ruled out," said Environment Minister Till Backhaus. "Against this background, it is justifiable to allow this attempt, and I thank the initiative for it."
The whale's situation has garnered international attention, leading to warnings from the state government about "wild conspiracy theories and misinformation" spreading online. A 67-year-old woman recently jumped off a boat to approach the whale before being stopped, according to reports. Backhaus emphasized the public's deep concern for the animal's fate and urged respect for the efforts of emergency services and adherence to protective measures.
The whale is believed to have become entangled in netting before becoming stranded on a sandbank, while suffering from a skin condition brought on by the lower salt levels of the Baltic Sea. Previous rescue efforts, including using excavators to dig a channel for the whale to swim free, were unsuccessful as the whale veered toward shallower waters. Greenpeace Germany, involved in earlier rescue attempts, does not support the latest effort, citing the whale's poor health. Wildlife experts from the German Oceanographic Museum and the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research have noted the whale is severely injured with visible skin detachments.