The stranded humpback whale off the German Baltic island of Poel remains trapped in shallow waters despite renewed efforts to free it, as tensions flare within the private rescue team and experts warn of escalating stress on the animal.
The twelve-meter-long whale, first sighted stranded in late March in Lübeck Bay, broke free on April 20 after three weeks but quickly returned to the sandbank near Poel, where it has since remained exhausted and intermittently active.
Environment Minister Till Backhaus confirmed at a press conference that the whale is „attentive and shows activity“ but remains a „sick patient,“ citing injuries including a „screw contact“ and confirming that fishing net found in its mouth does not originate from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern waters, where such gear is not used.
Backhaus pledged to „accompany the whale to the end,“ even as Greenpeace labeled the rescue operation a „megastreß“ for the creature and marine biologist Fabian Ritter urged an end to further interventions, arguing the animal’s chances of survival are diminishing with each human encounter.
The private initiative behind the latest rescue attempt reported that the whale reacted with panic during boat-guided maneuvers, behaving „completely uncontrollably“ at times, while internal team conflicts have intensified, with members accusing each other of procedural errors.
For more on this story, see Humpback whale stranded off Poel island remains precarious despite rescue attempts.
Writer Sergio Bambaren, part of the rescue crew, estimated the whale’s survival odds at roughly 50 percent, calling it a „fighter“ that „wants to live,“ even as a physician on the team fell into a coma and was replaced by a new veterinarian.
Rescue crews continued to struggle with exceptionally low water levels — up to 30 centimeters below normal according to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency — which have hampered efforts to deepen the whale’s vicinity despite prior success in suctioning silt from beneath its body.
Helpers were seen covering the whale with white cloths on Wednesday morning and deploying a suction dredger again, though plans to place sandbags around its flank to prevent drift into wider shallows had not been observed by evening.
This follows our earlier report, Timmy the Humpback Whale Stranded Again Off Poel Island in Baltic Sea Timmy the Humpback Whale Stranded Again Off Poel Island in Baltic Sea.
The whale’s fate remains unresolved, with no clear path forward as official rescue methods like airbags and pontoons remain off the table due to safety concerns, leaving the animal dependent on natural tides and volatile human intervention.
Why did officials rule out using airbags and pontoons to free the whale?
Authorities have not explicitly stated the reason, but sources indicate the methods were deemed too risky or ineffective after prior attempts, leading to their suspension while alternative, less invasive measures are considered.
What is the current water level affecting the rescue, and how does it hinder efforts?
The water level is up to 30 centimeters below normal, making it harder for the whale to move freely from the artificially cleared depression where it lies, especially as sandbag barriers to contain it have not yet been deployed.
