Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Humpback whale off Poel: start of rescue operation planned
If the private initiative that is trying to move the humpback whale off Poel has its way, today will be a decisive day. If everything goes according to plan, the marine mammal, estimated to weigh twelve tons, will start its journey towards the North Sea after four weeks in a shallow side arm of Wismar Bay - alive, together with water on board a barge that is normally used to transport ships, for example. In the morning, live streams on the internet showed the whale emitting small fountains and breathing.
28.04.2026, 06:40
SDA
Getting the large whale into the barge is likely to be tricky. Initially, the team wanted to maneuver the animal backwards into this type of floating tank using a tarpaulin. The day before, the vet involved, Kirsten Tönnies, then announced a change of plan. The animal is to be guided forwards by means of a belt through a specially created channel in the shallow water to and into the barge.
Vet: whale will not be overstressed
"We try to do this as gently as possible, and this is just a support." Tönnies assured that the whale would not be overstressed. Oliver Bartelt from the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG), which is supporting the initiative, said that the whale would "float". The animal will not lie on the ground. "It will not be dragged across any sand."
Nevertheless, it was unclear until the last minute whether the attempt would take place at all. According to the Ministry of the Environment in Schwerin, no documents for the use of the harness had been submitted by late afternoon the previous day, despite several requests. In the past, the ministry had emphasized that the coordination of such measures was not a matter of approval, but of toleration.
The lowerable barge intended to take the whale had been specially brought from the Elbe through the Kiel Canal. According to earlier information from the initiative, a ship was to take the barge and whale to the entrance to the North Sea in the direction of Skagen. Around three and a half days were planned for this.
German Oceanographic Museum: Leave the whale alone as much as possible
The German Oceanographic Museum once again spoke out on Monday in favor of giving the animal as much peace as possible instead. The repeated strandings of the whale indicated a serious health problem.
Nobody can say how the whale will ultimately react, according to the whale and dolphin conservation organization WDC. The little data available indicated that interactions with humans cause stress in wild large or baleen whales.
"In the wild, whales are not used to situations in which they are confined. Generally speaking, it is most likely that the unfamiliar situation would cause a whale additional stress, possibly even fear and panic." This is particularly true as the whale cannot act on its natural instinct to escape.
Weather favorable according to forecasts
If the whale were to muster the energy, violent fin strikes and thus risks for the animal and emergency services are conceivable. However, it is also possible that the animal could fall into a myopathy of capture, "i.e. a kind of shock paralysis in which the muscles cramp up". It could also be too weakened to show strong reactions. "It could then appear as if it is voluntarily participating in the operation or putting up with it."
If the transport starts despite all the adversities, the weather is forecast to be favorable. According to the DWD's maritime weather office, there could be winds of up to force 4 at most on Tuesday in the direction of Schleswig-Holstein. Wednesday will be "totally light windy" in the region, said a meteorologist. According to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), no unusual level fluctuations are expected off Poel in the near future.
