On April 24, 2026, a twelve-ton humpback whale remained stranded in a self-dug depression off the island of Poel in the Baltic Sea, its condition described as critical but stable by rescuers who noted its breathing rhythm of approximately six minutes.
The animal, alternately nicknamed „Timmy“ or „Hope“ by helpers, has been the focus of a private rescue initiative working to excavate a trench over 100 meters long, ten meters wide, and up to two meters deep to guide it back to deeper water, with digging and flushing operations expected to continue through Saturday.
Environmental Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) visited the site on Friday morning, entering the water to assess the whale and confirming to ZDF that while the animal appeared ill, it remained highly alert; he added that two new rescue concepts had been submitted to his ministry since Thursday and were under review.
Backhaus emphasized that the original plan to transport the whale using pontoons had not been approved by the Maritime Berufsgenossenschaft, rendering it ineffective from the ministry’s perspective, and stressed that both animal welfare and human safety were now central concerns.
Meanwhile, rescue diver Fred Babbel reported that a trench approximately 40 meters long, ten meters wide, and up to two meters deep had already been cleared to create a pathway toward the shipping channel, with plans to extend it to a total length of 110 meters once fully connected.
To counteract the risk of the whale drifting into shallow water as tides rise, organizers intend to deploy 40 large sandbags as a makeshift guide in the shallows, positioned using a pontoon and excavator, while 16 gravel-filled „Sizeable Bags“ remain staged in Kirchdorf harbor for use as a barrier.
A barge designed to function like an open-sided aquarium during transit is already en route to Poel, intended to carry the whale to the North Sea if the rescue proceeds, a concept Backhaus said could be aided by rising weekend water levels that might allow the animal to free itself.
For more on this story, see Humpback Whale Timmy Stranded Again in Baltic Sea Near Poel Island as Rescue Efforts Stall.
Veterinarian Kirsten Tönnies expressed surprise at the whale’s relatively quality condition after three weeks of stranding, noting visible skin improvement and telling Bild that the animal’s state was remarkable under the circumstances; Klaus Kraft of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern animal rescue added that the whale appeared deeply relaxed and had reopened its mouth slightly when offered food, indicating possible feeding ability.
Marine biologist Fabian Ritter, speaking to Bild, suggested the whale likely perceived the ordeal with a mix of wonder, despair, and fear, though he believed it sensed no malicious intent from humans.
Tönnies sharply criticized the expert assessment commissioned by the environment ministry, citing flaws from a veterinary standpoint and saying she would have prioritized different measures and conducted additional tests; in a Stern interview, she argued that both the public and ministry lacked understanding of the distinction between animal welfare, species conservation, and environmental protection.
This follows our earlier report, Rescue Efforts Begin for Stranded Humpback Whale Near Poel Island Using Pontoons and Pumps.
An anonymous local farmer described the conduct of onlookers and helpers as „terror,“ accusing them of thoughtless behavior amid the ongoing operation.
Funding supporter Walter Gunz pledged to finance the rescue „to the end,“ while a newly arrived team nicknamed the „Free Willy“ crew visited the whale on Friday.
Why has the original pontoon-based rescue plan been abandoned?
The original concept involving pontoons was not approved by the See-Berufsgenossenschaft (Maritime Berufsgenossenschaft), which led Minister Till Backhaus to declare it ineffective from the ministry’s standpoint, prompting a shift to alternative strategies.
What is the purpose of the sandbags and gravel barriers being prepared for the rescue?
The sandbags are intended to form a guide in shallow water to prevent the whale from swimming in the wrong direction as tides rise, while the gravel-filled Big Bags will create a barrier to keep it from re-entering shallow areas.
