New rescue plan for stranded whale in Baltic Sea

A new and unexpected rescue attempt using a catamaran is being considered for the whale that has been stranded for days off the island of Poel Island, in the Baltic Sea north of Germany.

This was stated by the Environment Minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Till Backhaus, who explained that the decision will depend on a health assessment.

Several German media outlets reported this, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The animal, a humpback whale weighing about 12 tons and measuring over 12 meters in length, is in “very serious” condition, according to the minister. The plan involves using a catamaran available in Denmark, with which the cetacean would be lifted using straps and transported into open sea.

The whale became stranded in recent days in the bay of Wismar Bay, after being spotted several times in recent weeks between the city’s port and the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.

Previous rescue attempts had not been successful, and it had been decided to give up and let the animal die in the bay, believing it now had very little chance of survival. However, at midday, the whale suddenly showed signs of life, moving its tail and arching its back as if to take a deep breath.

For days, the stranded animal has been continuously sprayed with water hoses to help it as much as possible, preventing dehydration and excessive overheating.