For a month, Timmy the humpback whale remained stranded in shallow waters near Germany. For several weeks, this massive marine mammal was trapped near the German city of Lübeck. Now, Timmy is finally making his way toward his natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean, being transported on a massive flooded barge positioned between two pontoons.
The story of his rescue—which has captured the world’s attention—was marked by multiple unsuccessful attempts. In the early hours of April 20, the enormous cetacean—measuring approximately 15 meters in length—managed to swim under his own power thanks to rising sea levels and favorable winds. However, just a few hours later, the whale changed course and ended up stranded once again in a shallow area.
Discussions regarding the feasibility of rescuing Timmy took place among government authorities, environmental groups, and the general public following the case. Given the whale’s weakened state and the skin deterioration he exhibited after weeks without being able to swim freely—the animal was breathing slowly, barely moving, and suffering from skin lesions caused by the low salinity of the Baltic Sea—some argued against attempting a rescue, or even advocated for euthanasia to avoid prolonging his suffering.
Ultimately, regional authorities authorized a private operation as a last resort to return Timmy to his natural habitat: a flooded barge—funded by two German entrepreneurs—on which he is now being transported out to the open sea.
