Rescuers have successfully coaxed a stranded humpback whale, named Timmy, onto a barge in the Baltic Sea, aiming to transport him to the North Sea. The whale, stranded for over a month near Lübeck, swam into the barge on Tuesday prompting cheers from onlookers.
The rescue mission, funded by two multi-millionaires, has drawn intense media attention. A diver involved, Fred Babbel, was moved to tears, stating he would see the operation through to the end. The next phase involves a tugboat pulling the barge into the North Sea, where Timmy will be released if deemed healthy enough, equipped with a tracker.
Till Backhaus, environment minister for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, expressed hope for a 'happy end' and noted the whale appeared content in the barge. He joked that Timmy would be in trouble with his mother for taking a wrong turn into the Baltic. The whale, weighing about 12 tonnes and measuring 10 metres, has become a cause célèbre in Germany.
The animal was identified as sick and fatigued, exacerbated by the Baltic's low salt content. Rescuers treated blister-like blemishes with zinc ointment and kept it hydrated with hoses. The operation has been controversial, with experts from the Stralsund oceanographic museum predicting the whale's demise, sparking outrage and leading to the current rescue plan.
Despite the controversy, rescuers remain hopeful. The whale is expected to be released in the North Sea to swim onward to the Atlantic.
