Overview
- The young humpback remains nearly motionless off the island of Poel, with crews on Friday starting to wet its exposed back every two to three hours to ease pain.
- Active rescue was halted Wednesday on expert advice that further intervention risked harm, and officials now expect the animal to die in the shallow bay.
- A 500‑meter exclusion zone is in force with a drone ban, and water police report compliance as they work to keep noise and traffic away from the whale.
- Preparations for a difficult recovery advanced Thursday as a survey boat mapped the seabed and an underwater drone documented the whale’s position and skin, with the 90 to 110 cm depth making any lift technically complex.
- If the whale dies, the body will be taken to Dänholm for a documented autopsy by external specialists, with samples saved for research, most tissue handled by a disposal firm, and the University of Rostock weighing a request to preserve the skeleton.