A humpback whale that became stranded off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein in the Baltic Sea has successfully freed itself and returned to deeper waters after days of intensive rescue operations.
The whale, which had been stuck on a sandbank near Timmendorfer Strand since early Monday morning, managed to escape its predicament during the night. Marine biologist Robert Marc Lehmann, who was involved in the rescue operation, told media on Friday that the animal had "gathered its strength" during the night and "freed itself under its own power."
Throughout Thursday, excavators had been working at the stranding site, digging a channel through the sandbank to provide the whale with a potential escape route. According to Lehmann, the animal overcame the final ten meters to reach deeper water during the night.
"Whale rescue successful," the expert wrote in a post on his Instagram profile. However, he cautioned against excessive optimism. "Now the critical phase begins," he said, referring to the ongoing concern that the whale might beach itself again at another location.
Lehmann asked his followers to provide tips with precise location details if the whale is spotted near the coast in the region. According to a report by the "Bild" newspaper, the whale has already been observed near Sierksdorf. Coast guard vessels are reportedly accompanying the animal.
Experts from various organizations had been working together with authorities since Monday to free the whale, which was stuck on a sandbank in shallow coastal waters. Several initial attempts to rescue the animal failed. On Thursday, a new effort began with multiple excavators working from both land and water to remove sediment around the whale. A floating excavator dug a channel through the sandbank for the animal.
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