Barge rescue attempt for Timmy the whale in Germany gets go-ahead

Rescuers in Germany have successfully moved a stranded humpback whale

A private initiative funded by two millionaires is launching "Operation Cushion

Rescuers are planning a new attempt to save a humpback whale, nicknamed Timmy, stranded off the coast of Poel Island in northern Germany since early March. The whale, found in the Baltic Sea far from its natural habitat, is currently stuck in a shallow coastal area. A private company will use air cushions to refloat the injured whale by its flippers onto a tarp attached to a tug boat. The goal is to drag the whale around Denmark's coastline and into the North Sea, potentially further into the Atlantic. While the whale is weakened and previous rescue attempts have failed, officials believe this "minimally invasive" approach offers a chance of survival, though the prognosis remains critical.

A last-ditch rescue operation is underway in the German Baltic Sea to save a stranded humpback whale nicknamed "Timmy." The whale, first spotted last month near Timmendorfer Strand, has repeatedly beached itself. Despite criticism about its low chances of success, the rescue is funded by two millionaires after regional officials considered letting the whale die. The plan involves using air cushions to lift the 12-tonne whale onto a tarpaulin and towing it to the North Sea or Atlantic Ocean. The whale reportedly swam into the Baltic while chasing herring and suffers from wounds and a skin infection. Greenpeace, previously involved in rescue attempts, has criticized the current operation, citing the whale's weakened condition and the high risk of injury.