German officials have approved a fresh attempt to rescue a humpback whale stranded off the country’s Baltic Sea coast for over a month. The 13-metre (40ft) whale, dubbed Timmy by some media, has been stuck on a sandbank near the city of Lübeck, far from its natural habitat, since 23 March.
Rescue plan gets go-ahead
Environment Minister Till Backhaus of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania announced that two vets had examined the whale and deemed it fit for transport. The rescue involves loading the whale onto a special barge and carrying it to deeper waters. The effort is funded by two entrepreneurs after earlier attempts failed.
Following the announcement, divers in suits were seen near the whale in shallow waters off the island of Poel, with the barge nearby.
Background of the ordeal
The whale first became stuck on 23 March, briefly freed itself, then got stranded again multiple times. At the start of April, officials gave up hope, but public outcry persuaded authorities to allow a private rescue plan. Some scientists criticise the decision, citing risks and low success chances.
Backhaus stated that rescuing the whale is his "absolute priority" and he is doing "everything possible to help." The saga has sparked media frenzy, with TV, online outlets, and social media influencers covering it non-stop, alongside angry spats and conspiracy theories.
