A rise in the water level in the Baltic Sea caused a turnaround in the rescue operation off Poel on Monday morning. After the humpback whale was able to free itself, it swam even deeper into the Bay of Wismar and narrowly missed the channel to the open sea. It is now lying motionless on the water. According to Environment Minister Till Backhaus, however, the whale has not refloated. Nevertheless, time is pressing due to the falling water levels.
Last weekend, the whale was supposed to be freed thanks to a technical solution. However, the operation had to be abandoned due to the rising water levels at the time:
Risky pontoon manoeuvre
The original plan was to first remove the silt from the humpback whale's pectoral fins. Lifting bags were then to be placed under the body of the whale to raise it. Bedded on a special tarpaulin and secured between two pontoons, the plan was to then drive the whale out of the bay. One thing is certain: The situation remains critical, as experts continue to warn of the strain on the organism.
Escort boats are currently trying to carefully guide the humpback whale into the shipping channel using acoustic signals and wave movements. The aim is to guide the exhausted animal out of the shallow water without restraining it.
Change of course at the ministry
Since the beginning of March Numerous attemptsto free the humpback whale by means of dredging or navigational assistance. However, as the Ministry of the Environment recently considered a successful rescue to be hopeless, the authorities had discontinued their efforts. The present concept for the whale rescue now enables a "responsible reassessment based on new technical possibilities", according to the Ministry of the Environment's press release. The private initiative must bear the costs and risks in full itself. Veterinarians will monitor the operation on site.
David Ingelfinger
Volontär
