A barge carrying a stranded humpback whale has started its journey toward the North Sea, hundreds of kilometers away, in a bid to return the mammal to its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. Nicknamed Timmy by German media, the whale was first spotted swimming near Germany's Baltic Sea coast on March 3, far from its usual waters.
Whale's Health Deteriorates
The whale's health has deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters. Unsuccessful efforts to coax it back toward deeper seas have been livestreamed globally. In the latest rescue attempt, rescuers spent hours on Tuesday pulling the whale to a flooded barge using straps and a channel dredged to create a passage, according to the German press agency dpa.
Journey Progress
The barge reached the island of Fehmarn in northern Germany, close to Danish waters, early Wednesday, reported the German tabloid Bild. It is expected to go around the northern tip of Denmark via the Skagerrak strait toward the North Sea.
Till Backhaus, environment minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the whale was stranded, said Tuesday he was “on the verge of jumping into the water to help the whale through the last few meters.” He approved the latest rescue attempt proposed by a private initiative, despite warnings from some scientists that the journey may be too stressful for the whale.
Debate Over Rescue Efforts
The debate about whether to let the whale die peacefully or continue rescue attempts has been ongoing for weeks. Activists have staged protests on the beach in Wismar calling for the animal’s release, while others support new transport ideas. However, Thilo Maack, a marine biologist at Greenpeace, told the Associated Press earlier this month that rescue efforts have caused severe stress.
“I believe the whale will die very soon now. And I would also like to raise the question: What is actually so bad about that?” Maack said. “Yes, animals live, animals die. This animal is really, really very, very, very sick. And it has decided to seek rest.”
Uncertain Survival
Scientists are unsure whether Timmy can survive the journey. Some believe the whale sought shallow waters because it was weak and needed rest. However, veterinarians from the private initiative consider the animal fit for transport.
