A humpback whale that had been stranded in shallow waters off the German coast has attempted to escape as it is transported towards the North Sea in a massive barge during a multi-million-pound rescue operation.
Whale's Escape Attempt
Nicknamed Timmy, the whale was spotted swimming near Germany's Baltic Sea coast on March 3, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. Rescuers on Tuesday pulled the whale onto a flooded barge using straps and a previously dredged channel. By Friday night, the vessel was sailing towards Norway, but footage captured Timmy swimming to the exit before stopping and returning inside his travel cot. The whale was then seen huddled in a corner, appearing panicked, as helpers used inflatable boats to block the exit.
Funding and Controversy
Timmy's rescue is funded by two millionaires, despite experts warning he may die anyway. The operation to save the 33ft whale, costing millions, has divided opinion. Biologists question whether the 12-tonne animal should have been saved given its poor health and the high expense.
Thilo Maack, a marine biologist at Greenpeace, stated earlier this month: '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? Yes, animals live, animals die. This animal is really, really, very, very, very sick. And it has decided to seek rest.' Some scientists believe the whale sought shallow waters because it was weak and needed rest. However, veterinarians of the private initiative consider the animal fit for transport.
Journey to the North Sea
Timmy swam onto a sandbank over a month ago off the Baltic coast, and its health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded. It was coaxed into the vessel on Tuesday in a last-ditch attempt to return it to the sea. The ship Fortuna B, towing the barge, was located between the Danish islands of Langeland and Lolland at around 2pm on Wednesday, with officials saying it could reach the North Sea in two days. Till Backhaus, environment minister for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, said: 'If everything goes well, he'll be in the North Sea in two days. The very worst is already behind him now.'
