After a long journey full of ups and downs, humpback whale Timmy was released into the wild on Saturday morning. Here you will find an overview of his long journey there.
May 2, 2026, 5:42 p.mMay 2, 2026, 5:45 p.m
Humpback whale Timmy has been making headlines in German-speaking countries for around two months. Spotted for the first time in Wismar harbor at the beginning of March, the public turned their attention to the marine mammal when it stranded on Timmensdorfer Strand near the island of Poel.
Image: www.imago-images.de
People discussed, brainstormed, speculated, predicted, even prophesied about what would happen next with “Timmy.” Finally, a committee of private individuals made the decision to save the animal on their own after politicians spoke out against it.
April 28th: Timmy is loaded
On the morning of April 28th, humpback whale Timmy spent hours of work being maneuvered into a specially dug channel – by hand. From there, rescue team members pull him with belts to the barge that is supposed to transport him. A tracking transmitter will also be attached to it, which will transmit its position once it is released.
Shortly before 3 p.m. it’s done: the humpback whale is in the lowered boat. A net is installed to prevent him from swimming out again. Small boats then push the barge out of the Kirchsee into the Wismar Bay, where the tug Robin Hood hooks it.
April 29th: Tugboat is changed
On Wednesday, Timmy’s transport train meanders between the North German island of Fehmarn and its Danish counterpart Lolland. The Robin Hood has now been replaced as tug by the accompanying Fortuna B. The reason: the latter is seaworthy.
Timmy in his short-term home.Image: DPA
April 30th: Things continue slowly.
In the early hours of the last day of April, Timmy’s convoy passes the Danish island of Sejero. For once there are no dramatic events.
May 1st: High waves make it impossible to continue sailing
Early on May 1st, everything still seems to be in order: Timmy and his companions chug leisurely but persistently towards the North Sea. But then, around 10 a.m., the bad news comes: the convoy cannot continue due to the high waves.
The entourage shoots for a few hours near Frederikshaven in Denmark. Contrary to the original plan, the idea now comes up of releasing the whale here and now, instead of in the North Sea. The net that prevents Timmy from swimming away is removed.
And yet things turn out differently: in the afternoon the whale transport heads north again. And actually, shortly before sunset, Timmy reaches the North Sea.
May 2nd: Freedom!
In the early morning hours the convoy drives further north of Denmark’s northernmost point. And finally the long-awaited news reaches the world: At around 9 a.m., humpback whale Timmy leaves his barge about 70 kilometers from Skagen. How exactly is not yet known.
We also don’t know where Timmy is now. The tracking device that was attached to it is not (yet) sending any reliable data.
(cpf)