The whale and its misguided journey into the Baltic Sea
The unexpected appearance of the roughly ten-meter-long marine mammal began just over a week ago when it became stranded on a sandbank off Timmendorfer Strand and freed itself in a dramatic nighttime rescue. Only a few hours later, it reappeared in Wismar Bay – a place whose shallow waters proved a trap for an animal of its size.
The colossal creature still lies near Walfisch Island at a depth of almost two meters; it regularly spouts jets of water, a clear sign that it is still breathing. But the longer it remains there, the greater the concern grows for its strength and injuries. The next installment reveals the dramatic hours the team experienced on site…
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The dramatic hours in Wismar Bay
Firefighters, water police, marine biologists from the ITAW, and Greenpeace immediately arrived to devise a rescue plan. They intended to use boats, ropes, and dredging a channel to help the animal reach deeper water – but the tides were too low, and the multi-ton creature only managed to travel a few meters.
While the rescuers waited through the night under floodlights, precious time ticked by. Experts described Wednesday as "crucial hours": either the whale would take advantage of the next spring tide – or it would sink even deeper into the soft seabed. But there are still people who tirelessly believe in a turnaround…
Helpers caught between hope and despair
Volunteers monitor the breathing intervals around the clock: If the interval is less than five minutes, it's considered a sign of life; if it rises to eight, the animal is classified as critically ill. So far, the interval has fluctuated between four and six minutes. Every spout of breath is celebrated on social media, every pause causes heart palpitations.
Greenpeace biologist Thilo Maack is now considering calming the whale to reduce stress. However, general anesthesia would be riskier than waiting for the next high tide. This balancing act between medical care and hoping for the best for nature is not the only problem – the Baltic Sea itself is also becoming an adversary…
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Why the Baltic Sea is dangerous for giants
The Baltic Sea has only a narrow outlet to the North Sea; the murky coastal waters are shallow, noisy, and crisscrossed with nets. Marine researchers suspect that the humpback whale lost its bearings here while hunting herring and injured itself repeatedly in drift nets. Lacerations along its fluke suggest this.
Added to this is the noise and wake from the freighters heading towards Lübeck and Rostock, which disrupts the animals' sonar system. This very acoustic confusion could prevent the whale from finding its way to safety. Just how critical its situation has become since Wednesday evening is evident from this morning's events…
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h2>The current situation on Thursday morning
Image: AI
Thursday, April 2nd, shortly after 6 a.m.: Drone footage shows the whale almost motionless – but every four minutes, a delicate spray rises like a cloud. No teams are in the water anymore; the risk of further panicking it with boat noise is too great. The shoreline is cordoned off over a wide area, and onlookers must keep a distance of 300 meters.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has suspended all active rescue attempts until a "decisive" spring tide allows for a new attempt. Should the animal's health deteriorate significantly, "humanitarian" euthanasia would also be considered. The final section explains what exactly will determine the marine mammal's fate…
What now depends on the fate of "Timmy"
The young "Timmy," as many children now call him, needs two things within 24 hours: rising water of at least 40 centimeters and enough remaining strength to roll himself into deeper water. If he succeeds, he could – accompanied by boats – find his way into the Kadet Channel and ultimately leave the Baltic Sea.
If this last attempt fails, rapid loss of strength due to dehydration and organ failure is imminent. Yet, a strong northeasterly wind is still forecast, which could push the water into the bay. As long as a fountain erupts every four minutes, hope remains – and all of Germany holds its breath.
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