Additional Coverage:
- Stranded humpback whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea weakens as hopes of its return to the Atlantic fade (pbs.org)
Stranded Humpback Whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea Shows Signs of Weakness, Rescue Efforts Continue
BERLIN – A humpback whale stranded in Germany’s Baltic Sea is showing signs of weakening, raising concerns among experts about its ability to return to the Atlantic Ocean despite ongoing rescue attempts.
Officials have established a 500-meter restricted zone around the whale near the eastern coastal town of Wismar to provide it with a calm environment to rest and possibly regain strength. “If the whale recovers, it may be able to leave on its own, which is why we’ve decided to give it space,” said Till Backhaus, Mecklenburg-Pomerania’s environment minister.
Backhaus added that the whale appears to be ill and may have sustained injuries from entanglement in fishing gear. Earlier this week, rescue teams tried to free the 12- to 15-meter-long (39 to 49 feet) whale from a sandbank near Timmendorfer Strand beach and Wismar Bay by using boats and even an excavator to create waves. These efforts captured national attention, with media outlets providing live updates and streaming video footage.
Despite widespread public interest and hope, experts are increasingly doubtful about the whale’s condition. Stefanie Groß from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover noted the animal’s decreased activity and slowed breathing, highlighting its lack of response even when approached closely.
The reasons behind the whale’s presence in the Baltic remain uncertain. Some researchers speculate it may have followed a school of herring off course or become disoriented during migration. The Baltic Sea’s low salinity and limited food sources make it an unsuitable habitat for the marine mammal, which has already developed skin problems.
Survival hinges on the whale’s ability to navigate back to the Atlantic via the narrow and challenging straits of the North Sea-a journey of roughly 500 kilometers (310 miles). Burkard Baschek, director of the German Maritime Museum, described the path as a “real bottleneck,” with slim chances for success.
The whale was initially spotted in the Baltic Sea on March 3, with reports of its stranding emerging last week. Rescue teams and experts remain hopeful but cautious as the situation develops.