It's still here: Yet another try to free whale stranded off Germany
April 16, 2026
Six volunteers waded on Thursday towards the humpback whale stranded off Germany's Baltic Coast in the first steps of a private rescue operation to free the ...
A new and complex rescue operation is underway in the Baltic Sea in a final effort to save a humpback whale that has been stranded off the German coast for weeks. The male whale, nicknamed Timmy, has captivated the German public since it was first spotted near Timmendorfer Strand in early March, far from its natural Atlantic habitat. The animal's health has been deteriorating, and this latest attempt is seen by many as its last chance for survival.
The young, 10-meter whale is believed to have become lost while migrating or possibly chasing schools of herring into the less saline waters of the Baltic, which are unsuitable for humpback whales long-term. Over the past month, the whale has repeatedly become stranded in shallow waters. Initial rescue efforts, which included using boats to create waves and even an excavator to dig a deeper channel, were either unsuccessful or provided only temporary relief before the whale became stuck again. The whale is now in a severely weakened state, suffering from a skin condition due to the low salt content of the water and suspected internal injuries.
After official state-sponsored rescue efforts were halted on April 1, a private initiative has now launched a high-stakes mission. Funded by two entrepreneurs, Karin Walter-Mommert and Walter Gunz, and approved by regional authorities, the plan known as "Operation Cushion" involves a delicate procedure to save the 12-tonne mammal. Rescuers in hip-deep water are working to flush silt from under the whale's flippers and slide large air cushions beneath it. The goal is to gently lift the animal onto a large tarpaulin stretched between two pontoons, which can then be towed by a tugboat.
The ambitious plan is not without controversy. Some wildlife experts and conservation groups, including Greenpeace, have voiced strong criticism, arguing the mission has a slim chance of success and risks causing additional stress and injury to the already critically ill animal. Experts from the German Oceanographic Museum have pointed out the whale is severely weakened and that the pressure of its own body weight while stranded has likely caused significant organ damage. They fear the animal is too debilitated to survive another rescue attempt, let alone the long journey back to the Atlantic.
Despite the grim prognosis and criticism, the rescue operation continues, propelled by strong public support and the financial backing of its sponsors. The environment minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who had previously suspended official attempts, has endorsed this new mission. If the team succeeds in lifting and securing the whale, the next step would be a multi-day journey to tow it out of the Baltic Sea, around Denmark, and into the North Sea, where it could hopefully begin a long and uncertain journey back to its natural ocean habitat.
Source: yahoo