Humpback whale spotted off Denmark: Authorities issue warning

"Es ist besonders wichtig, nicht in die Nähe des Tieres zu segeln oder auf andere Weise Kontakt zu ihm aufzunehmen", a spokesperson explained. If the whale is indeed ill, any disturbance would mean additional stress for it. This assessment was shared by several of the teams involved in the observation.

Background: Humpback whales in the Baltic Sea

The sighting comes against the backdrop of an increase in humpback whale observations in the Baltic Sea in recent years. However, the current animal is not the humpback whale "Timmy", which had previously made headlines. "Timmy" had been transported to the North Sea and released there by a private initiative in a complex operation using a transport barge.

The geographic location of the sighting – near the island of Funen and off the coast of Jutland – makes the case particularly delicate, as the Baltic Sea is an unusual habitat for humpback whales. The whales occasionally stray into the shallow inland sea, where they can find it difficult to orient themselves.

According to the authorities, the focus is currently on observation and public information. Intervention measures are not planned as long as no acute emergency becomes apparent. Monitoring is being carried out in coordination with marine specialists.

Rules of conduct for residents and boat operators

Residents and visitors to the Baltic coast are advised to keep their eyes open and report sightings to the relevant authorities without approaching the animal themselves. Drones and small boats should also avoid the area around the whale to prevent causing it to panic.

The case is reminiscent of earlier encounters with marine mammals in Danish waters, in which experts issued similar rules of conduct. The repeated sightings demonstrate how important coordinated action is between authorities, rescue services and the public.

What happens next

If the animal's state of health deteriorates, specialists will decide on possible further steps. Until then, the response teams' guiding principle remains: "Lassen Sie den Wal in Ruhe."

The Baltic Sea and the adjacent North Sea remain a high-risk habitat for migrating marine mammals. Each individual sighting provides researchers with new data on the behaviour of the animals outside their usual range.