Humpback whale 'Timmy' dies after months‑long rescue effort in Germany

Germany’s humpback whale nicknamed “Timmy” was found dead on May 14 off the island of Anholt in the Kattegat, ending a controversial rescue that began when the animal was first sighted off the German coast on March 3. The final rescue attempt on May 2 moved the weakened whale toward the North Sea aboard a barge, but tracking data show it likely survived only five more days, dying around May 6‑7 after swimming roughly 215 km toward the Baltic Sea.

An autopsy confirmed the whale was female and showed no injuries, nets, or foreign objects. Officials plan to convert some remains into biodiesel in Denmark and donate bones to a Danish museum.