WISMAR, Germany — March 30, 2026
A humpback whale stranded in shallow waters off Germany's Baltic Sea coast faces a deteriorating condition after weeks of struggling near shorelines.
The whale, first spotted in Wismar harbor on March 3, was most recently seen near Wismar on Saturday after becoming stranded on a sandbank near Timmendorfer Strand, Schleswig-Holstein, on March 23. Its position in shallow, winding bays has worsened its chances of survival, according to multiple sources.
The animal had previously been entangled in a fishing net before being freed by Sea Shepherd and emergency crews. Franziska Saalmann of Greenpeace stated: "Wir hoffen, dass ihm Ruhe erneut die Möglichkeit gibt, dass er die Kraft zusammennimmt und da nochmal freischwimmt." ("We hope that calm gives it another opportunity to gather strength and swim free again.")
Marine experts indicate the whale's prolonged presence in coastal Baltic waters since early March has left it weakened. Authorities and conservation groups continue monitoring the situation, though the overall prognosis remains poor.
The humpback's repeated strandings highlight the challenges marine mammals face in the shallow, heavily trafficked Baltic Sea. Previous rescue attempts have been complicated by the region's geography and human activity.