The carcass of a humpback whale, which drew significant attention for months in Germany, was brought ashore on a Danish beach. The whale was frequently stranded in the Baltic Sea, engaging the public and media. Nicknamed ‘Timmy’ and ‘Hope,’ it became a focal point for German media since first spotted on March 3.
The whale was discovered dead on May 14 near the small island of Anholt in the Kattegat, the strait connecting the Baltic Sea with the North Sea. The discovery concluded a prolonged rescue attempt and a headline-grabbing saga. On May 2, efforts peaked with the whale’s transportation towards the North Sea via barge to return it to the Atlantic Ocean, its natural home.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency announced that an examination of the carcass would take place next week to determine the cause of death. Danish news outlet ‘News5’ provided a livestream on Saturday of the whale being pulled ashore by a truck using a cable.
It’s uncertain why the whale entered the Baltic Sea, a habitat where it was ill-suited. Experts speculate it may have followed a shoal of herring or lost its way during migration.