Danish authorities have confirmed that a humpback whale found dead near the island of Anholt in the Kattegat strait is Timmy, the whale that was the subject of a controversial rescue attempt. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency said the whale was discovered on Friday and identified on Saturday via a tracking device.
The 10-metre-long calf gained global attention after being stranded on Timmendorfer beach in Germany nearly two months ago. Despite initial efforts to save it, German officials deemed the whale too weak to survive. However, two German millionaires funded a €1.5 million rescue, transporting Timmy by barge to the North Sea on 2 May.
The rescue was criticised by experts, including the International Whaling Commission and the Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund, who described the whale as 'severely compromised' and said the attempt amounted to 'pure animal cruelty'. The whale was found dead about 70km south of its release site.
Jane Hansen of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency stated that there are no plans to remove the carcass or perform a necropsy, but urged the public to stay away due to potential disease risks. Professor Amy Dickham of the University of Oxford questioned the use of funds, highlighting broader threats to whales such as vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglements.
