Rescuers to use air cushions in latest effort to save stranded whale
April 16, 2026
"Timmy" has been stranded in the Baltic Sea for weeks despite several attempts to free the ailing animal.
A novel rescue attempt is set to begin for a humpback whale that has been stranded in the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea for several weeks. Rescuers plan to use large air cushions to lift the whale, nicknamed Timmy by local media, in the latest effort to save the ailing animal. The 12- to 15-meter-long whale is located near the German town of Wismar and has barely moved for days, leading many to fear for its survival. The new plan, which has been approved by state officials, represents a final, desperate measure after previous rescue attempts have proven unsuccessful.
The whale was first spotted in the region on March 3, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. It is unclear why the humpback entered the Baltic Sea, though some experts speculate it may have been following a shoal of herring or became disoriented during migration. Throughout late March and early April, the whale, which is estimated to weigh around 12 tonnes, repeatedly became stranded and was temporarily freed with the help of police boats and other equipment, but it has been unable to find its way back to the North Sea. Its condition has steadily deteriorated due to the stress of the strandings and the low salt content of the Baltic Sea, which has negatively affected its skin.
The current rescue operation is a privately funded initiative, underwritten by two entrepreneurs, after regional officials had previously suspended state-sponsored rescue efforts on April 1, believing the animal could not be saved. The decision to approve this new attempt came after significant public attention, including livestream coverage and local activism calling for the whale’s liberation. The plan involves a multi-stage process where specialized air cushions will be positioned under the whale to gently lift it. The silt beneath the animal will be cleared away, and once lifted, the whale will be placed on a tarp secured between two pontoons. A tugboat will then attempt to tow the entire apparatus out of the Baltic Sea.
This method of using air cushions, or inflatable pontoons, is a recognized technique in whale rescues that has been in use since the 1980s. The technology is designed to be a non-invasive way to refloat large stranded whales by creating buoyancy and reducing the immense pressure of the animal's own weight on its internal organs. Experts supporting the plan say it is suitable for the current situation as it avoids the need for heavy lifting equipment that could cause further injury. However, the operation, which was scheduled to begin Thursday, has been delayed until Friday, with spokespeople citing a loss of time without providing further specifics.
The fate of the young male humpback whale now hangs in the balance. While there is renewed hope, the animal is severely weakened from its weeks-long ordeal. The environment minister for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Till Backhaus, acknowledged the whale's significant injuries but noted that it still shows signs of life. The success of this complex and delicate operation is uncertain, and critics have pointed out that the delay in implementing such a rescue may have caused irreversible harm, drastically lowering the chances of the whale's survival. Rescuers and the public now watch and wait to see if this final, ambitious effort can return Timmy to his natural ocean habitat.
Source: bbc