Humpback whale 'Timmy' survived only 4-5 days after controversial release

For weeks, the humpback whale known as "Timmy" made headlines. An autopsy of the stranded carcass is now expected to shed light on the cause of death. The images are not for the faint of heart. Source: WELT TV | Autoplay

Following the controversial rescue operation for humpback whale "Timmy," new findings have emerged: Transmitter data indicates that the animal survived only a few days after its release in the North Sea. The animal is now being processed into biodiesel.

Key Findings from Transmitter Data

According to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) in Schwerin, the humpback whale likely lived only until May 6 or 7 after its release on May 2. This conclusion is based on evaluated data from the transmitter the animal last wore. After that point, the whale drifted more or less, or the signal was lost.

• The whale traveled approximately 215 kilometers until its death.
• It was immediately heading back toward the Baltic Sea.
• In the Baltic Sea, it swam more slowly and did not dive as deep as before.

"It is sad how things turned out for the animal. It couldn't use the chance," Backhaus said.

Transmitter Details

The tracker provided data until May 7, including:

• Water depth
• Temperatures
• Movement patterns
• Speed

All data is to be made available to science. According to Bild newspaper, the tracker collected more than 90,000 data points.

The transmitter, manufactured by Wildlife Computers, was attached to the dorsal fin of the weakened and transport-injured animal shortly before its release. Key specifications:

• Weight: 210 grams
• Designed to send and store data for 490 days (approximately 17 months)

"So far, the first days have been evaluated. According to this, there were movements and deep dives, up to 150 meters, in the first two days. But the period that interests me, when Timmy died, has not yet been evaluated," Bild quotes millionaire Karin Walter-Mommert, who financed the rescue operation.

Background of the Rescue Operation

The whale had been stranded off the Mecklenburg island of Poel for weeks. A private initiative transported it on a barge toward the North Sea, and it was released in the Skagerrak, approximately 70 kilometers from Skagen, on May 2.

Washing Ashore and Autopsy

Nearly two weeks after release, on May 14, the humpback whale—often called "Timmy," though it was a female—was found dead on the Danish island of Anholt. How long it had been dead could not be determined.

According to the initiative, at least some movement data, such as dive depths, were initially recorded. However, the device never sent location data, presumably because it was not tested and initialized beforehand as intended. The transmitter did not record vital signs in the medical sense, such as heart or respiratory rate; special sensors would have been needed for that.

The already heavily decomposed whale carcass was autopsied after stranding on Anholt, initially without concrete results regarding the cause of death. The animal's remains were to be processed into biodiesel, among other things, in Denmark.

dpa/kami