Timmy the humpback whale in the Baltic Sea.Image: Sea Shepherd
May 7, 2026, 3:53 p.mMay 7, 2026, 3:53 p.m
Because there is still a lack of information about the location and condition of the humpback whale transported from the Baltic Sea coast, the Environment Ministry of the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is demanding clarity from the private initiative.
When asked, a spokeswoman for the ministry said that they had been asked in writing to transmit data from the GPS transmitter attached to the whale or to provide reasons why this was not possible.
If this does not happen, the ministry will consider legal action, the spokeswoman said. “Spiegel” had previously reported on this. Open questions need to be clarified, she said. The bearing data had already been requested several times in vain.
Ministry: Agreement not adhered to
According to the Environment Ministry of the northeast German state, the initiative agreed that a GPS transmitter would be attached to the whale and that bearing data would be transmitted. This has not yet been adhered to. According to Karin Walter-Mommert, a sponsor of the initiative behind the transport, the transmitter is supposed to provide signals, but locating the animal is impossible.
The marine mammal was released into the North Sea last Saturday. It is currently unknown how he is doing and where he is. Animal protection organizations unanimously assessed the whale’s long-term survival chances as very low. (sda/dpa)