Barge Carrying Formerly Stranded Humpback Whale Journeys To North Sea
BERLIN (AP) — A barge carrying a stranded humpback whale Starting in March, it began its journey towards the North Sea in shallow waters near Germany. German officials said the plane reached Danish waters on Wednesday.
Nickname: Timmy The whale was spotted by German media on March 3 swimming off Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. The mammal’s health deteriorated as it was repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it into deeper seas were broadcast live around the world.
On Tuesday, rescuers pulled the whale onto a flooded barge using straps and a channel previously dredged to allow passage to the ship, German press agency dpa reported.
The barge is now expected to head towards the North Sea from the northern tip of Denmark via the Skagerrak Strait.
“This type of life-saving operation has never happened before in Germany,” Till Backhaus, minister for climate protection, agriculture, rural areas and the environment of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told a press conference. “And it was an experiment, and the experiment was successful, and that’s great.”
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The minister said the whale was resting peacefully and making noise on Tuesday night, which means it is in good condition.
The minister had given the green light to the latest attempt to save the whale, proposed by a private initiative, despite some warnings from the scientific community that it might be too much for the animal.
contention The question of whether to let him die peacefully or help him return to the Atlantic Ocean has been going on for weeks. Activists held protests on Wismar beach calling for the liberation of the beach, while others also expressed support. new ideas about how the whale can be transported.
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Marine biologist Thilo Maack of Greenpeace told The Associated Press earlier this month that efforts to save Timmy caused the animal severe stress.
“I believe the whale will die very soon. I also want to ask the question: What’s actually so bad about it?” he said. “Yes, animals live, animals die. This animal is really, really sick. And it decided to rest.”
Some scientists believe that the whale specifically sought out shallow waters because it was weak and needed to rest. However, the veterinarians of the private enterprise think that the animal is suitable for transportation.
