Germany Whale Rescue

Environmentalists are close to a humpback whale in the Wismar Bay near Wismar, Germany, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

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A stranded whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea weakens as hopes of its return to the Atlantic fade

A stranded whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea weakens as hopes of its return to the Atlantic fade

A stranded humpback whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea looks weaker, and experts fear it won't be able to find its way back to the Atlantic. On Sunday, officials set up a 500-meter restricted zone so the whale could rest and try to free itself. Mecklenburg-Pomerania environment minister Till Backhaus says the whale seems sick and may have injuries from a fishing net. Rescuers have already freed it several times this week with boats and even an excavator, but it kept getting stranded. Scientists now report low activity and slower breathing.