Humpback whale "Timmy" autopsy completed: No clear cause of death

After the work was completed late in the evening, only bones and remnants with skin parts remained of the animal. Seagulls had already worked on the carcass earlier; organs and intestines lay around the animal at times. The last remains were cleared away in the dark.

Preliminary findings of the experts

Tim Jensen explained that no nets or other objects were found in the whale's mouth or stomach. Although parasites were found, they were not the cause of the animal's death. Jensen also emphasized that it is often very difficult to determine a clear cause of death in such carcasses.

Charlotte Bie Thøstesen said that no injury was visible, which could, however, be due to the decomposition of the animal, which had been dead for weeks. She explained to journalists: "So when we find stranded whales here in Denmark, we use them to gain insights into the wild animals." Such autopsies are routine for the experienced team, but very valuable for research, as humpback whales are difficult to study in their natural marine habitat.

Tissue samples and further procedure

The team took tissue samples as planned, including from the kidney and liver. Jensen announced: "We have taken tissue samples, and they will now be analyzed." Results are not expected for several months. Body parts still to be analyzed are to be taken to a laboratory in Copenhagen as quickly as possible, according to NDR Schleswig-Holstein.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, his department followed the autopsy via stream. Greenpeace and the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund also connected online. Scientists hope the examination will provide insights into the health status of humpback whales in the Baltic Sea and potential dangers from shipping, fishing, or environmental toxins.

Disposal and utilization of the remains

According to the team, some of the animal's bones, such as flipper or pelvic bones, are to be added to the collection of the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen. Unneeded remains are expected to be transported to the processing plant Daka SecAnim in Randers, Denmark, on Monday or Tuesday, according to the Danish Nature Agency.

Morten Abildstrøm from the Danish Nature Agency explained: "However, the containers are likely to be transported away only at the beginning of next week." Transport on the weekend would make little sense, as the responsible companies would have limited opening hours. The expert team will leave the island on Friday morning.

Background: Stranding and rescue attempt

The dead animal had washed ashore on the Danish coast just a few days after its release into the North Sea in the spring. Previously, the humpback whale had repeatedly stranded in shallow water on the German Baltic Sea coast, starting at Timmendorfer Strand in Schleswig-Holstein, which gave the animal its name. At that time, the animal was still believed to be a young male.

In the spring, a private initiative had loaded the whale onto a tugboat with a floating crane and taken it to the North Sea. Animal welfare organizations had previously unanimously assessed the animal's chances of survival as very low. The rescue operation had been sharply criticized in part, but initially seemed successful. A few days after its release, the carcass was identified off Anholt.

Since the first sightings in early March, the whale had made headlines for weeks and triggered a broad debate about whether the animal should have been euthanized or a rescue attempt undertaken. The autopsy was primarily intended to answer one question: Why the whale ultimately died – and whether lessons could be learned from its death for dealing with future strandings.

The company Daka Denmark, which usually handles the processing of whale carcasses and breaks down the remains into their components in a factory, had not yet received an order for the disposal of this whale carcass as of Wednesday. The final clarification of the cause of death thus remains open.

Until the laboratory results are available, the researchers involved intend to present their preliminary findings at specialist conferences. The Danish authorities announced that they would inform the public about significant new findings. The "Timmy" case has revived a debate in Denmark and Germany about the protection of large whales in the increasingly polluted Baltic Sea.