A humpback whale named 'Timmy' was first spotted stranded on a sandbank near Lübeck, Germany, on March 23, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The whale stranded multiple times and underwent several failed rescue attempts before being successfully placed in a water-filled barge and released into the North Sea off Denmark on May 2, 2026 [1, 2, 3].

The carcass of the whale was found near the Danish island of Anholt in the Kattegat strait on May 14 or 15, two weeks after its release [1, 2, 3]. Identification was confirmed by the Danish Nature Agency through retrieval of a tracking device still attached to the whale’s back. Jane Hansen, division head at the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, said, "Conditions today made it possible for a local employee from the Danish Nature Agency to locate and retrieve an attached tracking device that was still fastened to the whale’s back. The position and appearance of the device confirm that this is the same whale that had previously been observed and handled in German waters" [2].

The rescue operation in Germany was privately funded and cost approximately €1.5 million (about US$1.7 million) [3]. The whale stranding had drawn significant public interest and media coverage in Germany where it was dubbed 'Timmy' [1, 2, 3].

Authorities said there were no concrete plans to remove the whale carcass or perform a necropsy, and it was not currently considered a problem for the local area. Hansen added, "At this time, there are no concrete plans to remove the whale from the area or to perform a necropsy, and it is not currently considered to pose a problem in the area" [3]. A statement from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency warned the public to keep distance due to potential disease transmission and the risk of explosion from decomposition gases, noting, "This is because the whale may carry diseases that can also be transmitted to humans, and there may also be a risk of explosion, as decomposition creates large volumes of gases" [3].

On May 16, 2026, authorities officially confirmed the carcass was that of 'Timmy' following the retrieval of the tracking tag [1, 2, 3].