BERLIN — Rescue workers successfully freed a humpback whale into North Sea waters on Saturday after the marine mammal had been trapped in shallow coastal areas near Germany for several weeks, according to witnesses.
German media gave the whale the nickname ‘Timmy’ after it was first observed swimming close to Germany’s Baltic Sea shoreline on March 3, hundreds of miles away from where it should naturally be found in Atlantic waters.
The creature’s condition worsened as it kept getting stuck in shallow areas near Wismar, a German coastal community, while worldwide audiences watched live broadcasts of failed attempts to guide it toward deeper ocean waters.
Despite concerns from some researchers that the rescue effort might prove too stressful for the animal, the environment minister for Germany’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region authorized the privately-organized rescue mission to proceed.
According to German news agency dpa, Jens Schwarck from the private rescue group reported that the whale was set free at approximately 9 a.m. local time. The release took place roughly 70 kilometers (45 miles) off the Danish coast near Skagen.
Video captured by drones showed a whale swimming and breathing near the rescue vessel, though officials could not immediately verify the footage showed Timmy.
The situation created controversy over whether the whale should be allowed to die naturally or receive human assistance to return to Atlantic waters. Protesters gathered on Wismar’s beach demanding the animal’s rescue, while others proposed alternative transportation methods.
Several scientists theorized the whale had deliberately sought shallow waters because it was weakened and required rest. However, veterinarians working with the private rescue team determined the animal was healthy enough for the transport operation.
Reports indicate a GPS tracking device was placed on the whale before its release to monitor its movements, according to dpa.
