Overview
- The rescue effort, halted Wednesday after a joint briefing in Wismar, will not resume as experts said the whale will die at its current spot.
- The animal now lies weak and largely still in shallow water near the island of Poel, with very irregular breathing and almost no reaction to people.
- Officials set a police‑monitored exclusion zone, banned drone flights, and said they will only observe the whale, with euthanasia ruled out.
- Teams had tried minimal‑stress tactics in recent days, using boat approaches and sound to prompt movement after removing about 50 to 60 meters of net from its mouth, though an unknown amount may remain.
- Humpback whales are not suited to the Baltic’s low‑salinity, shallow bays, which can damage skin and offer poor cues for navigation, making repeat strandings more likely.