Overview
- The privately funded team loaded the weeks‑stranded whale into the barge on Tuesday and began a tow around Denmark toward the Skagerrak, the strait leading to the North Sea, for a planned release.
- By Thursday, the convoy had cleared Denmark’s Great Belt and was nearing Skagen, while onboard veterinarians reported regular breathing, loud vocalizations, and nonstop monitoring.
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the IWC strandings panel, and Germany’s ocean museum warned that long‑term survival is unlikely and cited risks including stress‑related muscle breakdown, drowning on release, and difficulty swimming or diving after prolonged time in shallow water.
- Denmark’s environment ministry said it does not rescue stranded marine mammals, and Norway’s fisheries guidance advises against towing large whales and allows euthanasia in severe cases.
- The rescue group mentioned a backup plan to move the whale to a care center, but it is unclear if any facility can take a 12‑meter, 12‑ton humpback, and the team says only they and state officials will see the tracker data.