Stranded whale ferried out of German waters in barge

More than five weeks after a humpback whale became stranded in shallow waters on the German coast, a barge has ferried the animal out of German waters, en route to the North Sea.The final operation to save the whale is being closely followed across Germany, after the failure of earlier attempts to lure it away from the coast.The whale was coaxed into the water-filled barge on Tuesday, in a mission funded by two German entrepreneurs.Marine experts have largely distanced themselves from the operation. An expert International Whaling Commission panel said such plans were well meant, but the animal looked "severely compromised and unlikely to survive even if moved to deeper water".Despite the scepticism surrounding the whale's fate, those involved in the operation were delighted with its success.For many, Till Backhaus, the environment minister in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has become the face of the rescue mission. Hailing the operation as a success, he said it was an "example for Germany of what can be done"."If everything goes well, it will be in the North Sea in two days," he told reporters, adding that the whale was doing very well and reportedly even sang during the night.The two entrepreneurs who funded the rescue were delighted the whale had been saved from shallow waters near the Island of Poel where it had spent the past 29 days.