Overview
- The juvenile humpback nicknamed Timmy was confirmed dead and identified by a tracker attached during the rescue after his body was found 20 metres off Anholt on May 15.
- A privately funded operation that placed Timmy in a water‑filled barge and towed him into deeper water cost an estimated £1.2 million and has drawn criticism from marine experts who warned the whale was too weak for transport.
- Rescuers fitted the whale with a tracker meant to show location and vital signs but scientists say the device failed to provide verified transmissions and have sought the raw data to clarify Timmy’s final movements.
- Danish agencies restricted beach access, warned the public to keep away from the swollen carcass, and plan to tow it offshore and bring it to Grenaa for a necropsy to determine cause of death.
- Experts note Baltic Sea low salinity and shallow waters can weaken humpbacks and cause lesions, and authorities say puncturing or cutting the carcass can reduce the risk of explosive gas buildup during removal.