The humpback whale that prompted a complex rescue operation in Germany was found dead in Denmark, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency reported on Saturday (16). The animal, known as 'Timmy' in the German press, was first seen stranded on a sandbank on March 23 off the Baltic Sea coast.
After several failed attempts to refloat it, the whale was transported on a barge from Wismar Bay to the North Sea and released on May 2. The carcass was spotted on Thursday (14) near the island of Anholt in the Kattegat Sea, between Sweden and Denmark.
'It has been confirmed that the humpback whale found near Anholt is the same one that had previously stranded in Germany and was the subject of rescue attempts,' said Jane Hansen, division head of the agency, in a statement. An official from the Danish Nature Agency located and recovered a tracking device attached to the animal's back, whose position and appearance confirmed its identity.
Hansen added that, for now, 'there is no concrete plan to remove the whale from the area or to perform an autopsy,' as the animal 'is not considered a problem in the region.' The agency asked the public to maintain a safe distance, warning of the risk of transmissible diseases and explosion.
The fate of 'Timmy', also called 'Hope', sparked controversy in Germany. The animal appeared weakened, and some experts considered it futile to insist on the rescue after several failed attempts.