A stranded humpback whale, affectionately dubbed 'Timmy', has finally been freed following a rescue mission that cost millions. The whale spouted a final goodbye before disappearing into the ocean, a moment many feared would never come after critics argued he should be left to die.
Timmy had been struggling to survive after breaching near the German coast. He was released into the North Sea off Denmark on Saturday after being transported in a barge, a member of the rescue mission confirmed. The whale was first spotted stuck on a sandbank on March 23 near the city of Luebeck, freeing itself and then becoming stuck again several times.
At around 8:45 am (0645 GMT), Timmy left the barge that had towed him from Wismar Bay on the Baltic coast, said Karin Walter-Mommert from the rescue initiative. 'Timmy is now swimming on its own and freely, and at least for the time being, in the right direction,' she added.
Controversial Rescue Effort
At the start of April, German officials gave up on trying to rescue the animal, believing he could not be saved. However, this triggered an outcry, and authorities were persuaded to approve a privately financed rescue plan proposed by two wealthy entrepreneurs. The barge idea was hatched after their initial attempt to save the whale with inflatable cushions and pontoons was unsuccessful.
The rescue effort was seen as a long shot and criticized by experts who argued it would only cause the animal more distress. Biologists questioned whether the 12-tonne animal should have been saved at all given its poor health and the huge price tag. Thilo Maack, a marine biologist at Greenpeace, said 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?' He added, 'Yes, animals live, animals die. This animal is really, really, very, very, very sick. And it has decided to seek rest.'
Media Frenzy and Public Reaction
The whale's ordeal sparked a media frenzy, with non-stop coverage from TV channels, online outlets, and social media influencers. It also led to angry spats and conspiracy theories. Supporters baked whale-shaped cakes, wrote songs about the animal, and even had themselves tattooed with images of the whale. The movement to save Timmy became a national sensation.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) criticized attempts to save the mammal as 'inadvisable', with experts stating the creature 'appeared to be severely compromised' and was 'unlikely to survive' efforts to move it into deeper water. The whale has been described as lethargic and suffering blister-like blemishes, while parts of a fishing net are believed to be still caught in its mouth.
Successful Release
Rescuers pulled the whale into a flooded barge on Tuesday using straps and a channel dredged to create a passage to the vessel. The operation was broadcast live. After some distance, the whale, with rescuers swimming alongside, sped up and swam into the barge, sparking cheers from the rescue team and onlookers. 'I can't even say how happy I am,' said Karin Walter-Mommert, one of the entrepreneurs financing the rescue bid.
The ship Fortuna B towing the barge was located between the Danish islands of Langeland and Lolland, 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.' Speaking on the island of Poel, where the animal was most recently stranded, Backhaus noted the whale was 'doing well' and had made sounds during the night, thanking rescuers for their 'wonderful' effort in 'an exceptional situation that is hardly comparable anywhere in the world in this form.'
Despite the successful release, experts from the Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund warned against letting Timmy loose in the open sea, saying he was in danger of drowning, and called for transparency regarding the mammal's whereabouts. The humpback had been struggling for more than a month along the German coast, repeatedly getting stuck on sandbanks before freeing itself again.
