The whale’s torment is over: Timmy is dead

“Timmy’s” last journey ended 75 meters off the island of Anholt, where the dead whale lies in waist-deep water. How it began caused discussions: the animal appeared for the first time in the German Baltic Sea at the beginning of March, where it spent most of its time in shallow water zones. Not a good sign – and the reason for an emotional debate about what to do with the presumably sick whale.

The media reported with a live ticker, and politicians also got involved. Ultimately, “Timmy” was rescued by a private initiative and taken to the North Sea on a flooded barge – including a serious argument about whether the action made sense. It was largely financed by the millionaire Karin Walter-Mommert and the MediaMarkt co-founder Walter Gunz. It is said to have cost around 1.5 million euros. Experts saw little chance of survival.

Shortly after “Timmy” was released, the next excitement followed: the GPS transmitter that was (supposedly) attached to its fin provided no (or only insufficient) signals. The animal was “lost” at sea, which further exacerbated the controversy between the private initiative and the government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

In the meantime, it was discovered that technology and whales don’t get along well: whales have to surface regularly to breathe – but that’s exactly what interrupts the necessary water contact for the transmitter. At the same time, the tracking transmitter can only transmit data when it is on the surface. An unfortunate combination.

The whole trip ended unfortunately: “It can now be confirmed that the stranded humpback whale near Anholt is the same whale that was previously stranded in Germany and should be rescued,” said a written statement from the authorities on Saturday, from which the news magazine Focus quoted.

Recognized by the tail

The caudal fin in particular may have helped with identification. Each whale has an individual pattern on its fluke – comparable to a human fingerprint. The evening before, journalists had photographed the fin from the air using a drone from various angles, and divers also inspected the carcass in detail. A German veterinarian who was involved in the rescue mission traveled specifically to Denmark.

The marine mammal has probably been dead for some time. The Danish authorities have no plans to remove the carcass for the time being. It was “75 meters away from the beach and wouldn’t bother anyone,” they said. According to the warning, you should not approach the animal. It could explode due to putrefactive gases.

The seagulls are currently eating their fill of “Timmy”.