Germany holds its breath as rescue of stranded humpback whale 'Timmy' underway

Energy crises, political turmoil, wars in Iran and Ukraine – none of it matters in Germany right now. The whole country is focused on one thing on Tuesday: the rescue operation for Timmy, a humpback whale stranded in Wismar Bay in northern Germany for several weeks and unable to return to the North Sea.

Experts believe the whale is in distress and in poor health. According to the German Oceanographic Museum, his behavior points to a serious underlying medical condition.

The "Free Willy" expert is called in

Concern for Timmy's well-being and the drive to return him quickly to his natural habitat in the North Sea have dominated German and international media coverage in recent weeks. To find a solution, a number of experts were brought in – among them Jeff Foster, who was involved in the release of Keiko the killer whale (the orca whose story inspired the 1993 film "Free Willy").

Foster and other team members who worked on Keiko's release, along with additional specialists, were asked to find a solution to save Timmy's life. The experts debated how to move Timmy from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. They ultimately decided to use a large barge to tow Timmy, who weighs approximately 12 tons (about 26,400 lbs), back to open water.

Foster, the well-known whale rescuer, told the German news outlet Bild Tuesday morning, "It will be a challenge, but we are very optimistic. Timmy responded very positively to us last night, and I have a feeling he understands that we want to help him. A lot of new things will happen to him in the coming hours, but we hope we can help him through it. Wish us luck."

"We need luck"

Joining the many television crews and media outlets reporting on the rescue – some broadcasting live – was Til Backhaus (67), the environment minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "We need luck, and maybe the good Lord – or whoever is involved – will have mercy on us and allow us to solve this problem now. For me, this will be one of the most wonderful experiences of my life," the minister said.

The barge evacuation attempt comes after weeks of exploring other options and close veterinary monitoring to help Timmy survive in the shallow waters. The towing effort has nonetheless drawn criticism from some experts. The German Oceanographic Museum has called for the whale to be left in peace and for a sterile environment to be maintained around him, given a health condition that appears to be hampering the large animal, known scientifically as a fin whale.

At the same time, animal rights activists have warned of the stress and panic that contact with humans – unnatural for whales – is likely to cause, potentially manifesting in violent fin strikes or a state of shock with muscle seizures.

"We are trying to make the operation to return the whale as gentle and careful as possible," said Kirsten Tönnis, a veterinarian taking part in the rescue effort, adding that the whale would not be subjected to excessive stress.

Oliver Bartelt of the DLRG (German Life Saving Association), which is supporting the barge initiative, said the whale "will be moved by buoyancy and will not be dragged across the seabed," and that durable straps would be used to help stabilize Timmy during his return to open water.

In the hours ahead, if the operation succeeds, Timmy will be released into the sea – and it will then become clear whether he survives and whether the enormous effort and resources invested in his rescue have paid off.