Anholt/Randers, 09 June 2026
The remains of the humpback whale known as "Timmy," which was found dead in mid-May on the Danish island of Anholt, are being processed into biodiesel, biomass, and museum specimens at a Danish rendering plant in Randers.
Following the death of the young humpback whale, initial parts of the animal were transported away from the beach on the Danish island of Anholt on Friday, with the remaining recovery work taking place on Monday. At the plant of the company Daka Denmark in Randers, Jutland, the remains are first separated into three components, according to a spokesperson. The specialized company focuses on the collection, processing, and recycling of by-products from agriculture and the food industry.
The fats from the whale's blubber layer are processed into biodiesel. Bones, tendons, and skin are converted into a powdery substance used as biomass in the cement industry. The water generated during processing is treated and discharged back into the fjord, according to the company. "In der Fabrik des Unternehmens in Randers werden die Überreste von Walen wie \"Timmy\" laut einem Sprecher zunächst in drei Bestandteile getrennt", had been stated previously.
From Carcass to Biodiesel, Biomass, and Museum Specimen
In addition to processing at the plant, some of the animal's bones are to be prepared and added to the collection of the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen. The bones could be used for scientific purposes or exhibited in the future, according to sources close to the museum. The humpback whale had previously been publicly dissected on Anholt on 9 June 2026.
The multi-hour on-site examination included opening the carcass and cutting it into several parts. Heavy body parts were loaded into containers using an excavator. The autopsy, completed last week, determined, among other things, that the animal was a female and not, as initially assumed, a male. A definitive cause of death could not be determined from the dissection.
Dissection on Anholt: Female, Cause of Death Unclear
The young humpback whale was first sighted well outside its natural habitat off the German Baltic coast in early March. In late April, a private initiative transported the visibly weakened animal by cargo ship toward the North Sea and released it there in deeper, more suitable waters. In the following weeks, the clearly weakened whale stranded repeatedly, including on coasts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein, and was returned to the water each time. On 14 May, it was ultimately found dead on the beach at Anholt.
Rescue Attempt and Political Responsibility
Before release, a tracker had been attached to the animal to monitor its movements. The data from this transmitter is still being evaluated. According to the Ministry of the Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the data of the initiative involved is fully available, and that of the ministry is available in part. "Die Daten sollen möglichst zügig abschließend ausgewertet werden. Sobald dies geschehen ist, wird die Öffentlichkeit über die hieraus folgenden Erkenntnisse informiert", a spokesperson told dpa.
The evaluation of the tracker data is to be completed shortly, according to ministry statements. The findings could help better understand why the whale strayed so far into the Baltic Sea and allow for better assessment of similar cases in the future. In recent weeks, there had been puzzlement surrounding "Timmy's" death, as clarification through the transmitter data was being awaited.
Tracker Data Expected to Provide Answers
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) played a central role in the controversial rescue operation. His ministry had approved and accompanied the operation despite professional doubts about the chances of success, it was said. Following the animal's death, Backhaus stated that responsibility for planning and execution had rested with the private initiative, and that the state had merely tolerated the attempt. He simultaneously defended the approach with the argument that the whale had deserved a chance.
However, criticism was directed at Backhaus, with accusations that he had not sufficiently weighed scientific warnings and had supported the initiative too generously. Cooperation with those involved was also reportedly not entirely smooth, including regarding coordination and data exchange. The case had sparked debate beyond state borders about the handling of stranded marine mammals. The incident was reported on, among others, by dpa journalist Veronika Huber.