Dead humpback whale 'Timmy' still draws hundreds of complaints, burdening German justice system

Humpback Whale Concerns the Judiciary

Humpback whale "Timmy" continues to write stories even after his death: he is employed by the public prosecutor in Schwerin – and is now undergoing an autopsy.

What did "Timmy" actually die of? The autopsy should take around six hours. Photo: Marcus Golejewski/dpa

dpa | Humpback whale "Timmy" has been a topic in Germany for months – and he remains so even weeks after his death. While preparations for a comprehensive autopsy of the carcass are underway on the Danish island of Anholt, the Schwerin public prosecutor's office is confronted with a flood of reports and tips.

The number of whale-related incidents is now in the three-digit range, said Jonas Krüger, spokesman for the investigative agency, to the German Press Agency. As far as he knows, this mass of submissions is a new phenomenon for the public prosecutor. They do not just come from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but they still end up in Schwerin because of the jurisdiction.

These are not just advertisements, but also partly tips. People offered their help and sent it to many places. "I can also talk to whales," someone wrote. There were "ludicrous" things, said Krüger.

Minister Backhaus Reported – With Opposite Allegations

The present advertisements went in different directions. Accusations of failure to provide assistance came from the time when it was temporarily decided to leave the whale largely alone. According to Krüger, reports were later received with reference to the Animal Protection Act, which were directed against the transport measures.

Advertisements were directed against a wide variety of people, such as those involved in transport. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) was reported for all sorts of things – because he didn't do anything, because he did something. Among other things, employees of the German Maritime Museum, which was not involved in the rescue, were also reported.

Krüger has the impression that virtually everyone who was associated with the whale thanks to media reporting has been reported. Even Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD), who stayed out of the whale case, was hit.

Processes from Elsewhere Forwarded to Schwerin

According to Krüger, Schwerin's responsibility is due to the fact that the whale was off the island of Poel for a long time. The Wismar district court and thus the Schwerin public prosecutor's office are responsible for this area.

If someone somewhere else in Germany places a report online, it is usually forwarded to the police station responsible for their place of residence, explained Krüger. The police pass the matter on to the responsible public prosecutor's office, which forwards it to Schwerin.

Krüger could not estimate how much more the Schwerin team had to deal with. It is also unclear to what extent there is actually evidence for an investigation. In some cases, processes would also be summarized if necessary. Either way – the authorities have to look at all entrances.

Autopsy Is Being Prepared

Meanwhile, preparations for the study of the humpback whale are underway on the Danish island of Anholt. A rescue team pulled the animal's carcass out of the shallow water onto the beach using a steel cable over the weekend. With the help of a wheel loader, the sandy ground around the whale was smoothed out. Then some metal plates were laid out.

Veterinarians and whale experts want to examine the carcass on Thursday afternoon. The autopsy is expected to take about six hours. The aim is to find out what the animal died from.