Rescuers again fail to free whale stranded on Germany’s Baltic coast

Rescuers made another unsuccessful attempt to free a stranded humpback whale on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on Thursday, using a large suction dredger to remove sand from around the animal.

Two excavators dug a trench to try to free the whale, which has been stuck in the shallow waters of Timmendorfer Strand beach since Monday morning, attracting media attention.

The aim of the latest rescue attempt was to approach the 12 to 15 meter long marine mammal slowly, partly so that it gets used to the noises, said Sven Partheil-Böhnke, the mayor of Timmendorfer Strand.

The work requires complete concentration because rescuers must reach within a centimeter of the animal’s head, the mayor explained.

Excavator operator Tim Löhndorf told DPA on Wednesday that the plan was to dig a trench 50 meters long, six meters wide and 1.20 meters deep in front of the whale’s head.

Wind and currents would pose particular challenges during the rescue operation, he said.

Before the rescue attempt began, biologist Robert Marc Lehmann approached the stranded animal, which reacted with loud movements and sniffing.

The diver’s assessment showed the animal appeared to be in relatively good condition, said Stephanie Gross of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife (ITAW), adding that the whale appeared motivated.

Efforts to free the massive marine mammal continued into the night, but were ultimately halted Thursday evening and were expected to resume Friday. But by Thursday evening, the animal had at least managed to change its position slightly, a DPA journalist said.

Even if the whale manages to be freed, it won’t be out of the woods yet. Since the Baltic Sea is not its natural habitat, it must find its way back to the North Sea and then to the Atlantic without running aground again.

The Baltic Sea presents a bottleneck, said Jan Herrmann, a veterinarian and whale expert from Wilhelmshaven.

“It has to find its way back out, and it’s not entirely clear that the navigation system of humpback whales is designed for that,” Herrmann said.

ITAW expert Joseph Schnitzler said the whale would definitely need to be escorted out.

“And then you just have to hope that the animal makes the right decisions, because you can’t really guide it,” he added.

The humpback whale was discovered on the sandbar Monday morning. On Tuesday, a rescue attempt with a small suction dredger failed.

Attempts to make waves using police boats to allow the whale to swim freely also proved unsuccessful. Even Tuesday evening’s high tide was not enough to free the trapped marine mammal.

According to experts, humpback whales can weigh up to around 30 tonnes and have a life expectancy of up to 90 years. The species is characterized by its long pectoral fins, which reach a third of its body length.