TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A humpback whale found dead off the coast of Denmark has been confirmed as “Timmy,” the young whale whose rescue efforts had drawn widespread public attention in Germany since March 2026.
According to German broadcaster DW, divers confirmed that the whale discovered near Anholt Island was the same humpback whale that had spent weeks stranded along Germany’s Baltic Sea coast.
Timmy first captured public attention after repeatedly becoming stranded in shallow waters along the German coastline in late March. Rescue teams and marine activists launched extensive efforts to save the animal, which measured around 12 meters in length.
In early May, Timmy was successfully transported from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea aboard a specially designed water-filled transport barge. The rescue operation aimed to guide the whale toward deeper, saltier waters connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
At the time, rescuers reported that Timmy swam out of the barge under his own power after being released into the North Sea.
Environmental activists had hoped the whale would recover and continue its migration toward the Atlantic. A member of the rescue team told AFP that Timmy initially appeared to be heading in the correct direction after the release.
However, concerns about the whale’s condition remained high throughout the operation. Marine experts warned that Timmy’s health had deteriorated significantly during the prolonged period of stranding in the Baltic Sea.
The Baltic’s relatively shallow and less saline waters are considered unsuitable for humpback whales, which normally inhabit deeper ocean environments.
The confirmation of Timmy’s death has sparked sadness among environmental groups and members of the public who had closely followed the rescue mission over recent weeks.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the exact cause of death.
Read: Humpback Whale ‘Timmy’ Released in North Sea
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