A young humpback whale, previously stranded and rescued near Timmendorfer Strand, has run aground again on a sandbank in Wismarbucht. Authorities and environmentalists plan rescue efforts for Sunday if the animal does not free itself. The whale suffers from low salinity and lack of food in the Baltic Sea.
The 12 to 15 meter long humpback whale was discovered on a sandbank near Timmendorfer Strand in Schleswig-Holstein on Monday morning. After a days-long rescue operation, the animal initially freed itself via a channel dug by helpers. Hopes were that the whale would find its way back to the Atlantic, as the Baltic Sea offers insufficient food and its low salinity poses problems.
On Saturday midday, the whale was sighted again in Wismarbucht near Walfisch island, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Schwerin Ministry of Environment. The animal had not changed its position in the shallow water for some time. A Greenpeace spokesperson confirmed this to the news agency dpa. Scientists approached by rubber boat to assess its condition, and Greenpeace captured drone footage.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) stated: «Should the animal not have freed itself by tomorrow, the experts on site will try to gently nudge the whale and move it towards deeper water.» A deeper channel exists nearby, which the whale might reach on its own. Backhaus urged leaving the animal in peace and maintaining at least 500 meters distance. Water protection police will prevent approaches by unauthorized persons.
New rescue attempts may start on Sunday, including with rubber boats to prevent the whale from returning to shallow waters.
