Danger of explosion complicates culling Timmy the whale's carcass

©picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Golejewski

A new attempt to recover the carcass of Timmy the whale that was stranded off the coast of Denmark will be made early next week, German media reports. Three attempts have already failed. Meanwhile, the risk of the carcass exploding is increasing while injuries deceased humpback whale were also noted.

Deep injuries were detected on the tail fin of whale Timmy, reports German newspaper Bild. According to whale expert Fabian Ritter, the injuries may have come from ropes. "It looks like an obvious injury was inflicted, but an unequivocal assessment is difficult based on the images," he said on Saturday morning. "I think the indentations could very well be the result of one or more ropes." The question is when the injuries occurred. They appear fresh because there is no seaweed or discoloration in the area of the injury, unlike the rest of the carcass. An autopsy should clarify the question. Another attempt to recover the whale will be made after the weekend.

Humpback whale Timmy became a household name in recent weeks. Every day there was an update on his situation and where he was. Unfortunately, a protracted rescue operation failed. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency confirmed on Wednesday that the dead specimen that washed ashore off the coast of the Danish island of Anholt on Tuesday is indeed the hotly debated Timmy.

Timmy was an adult male humpback whale that stranded on the German coast in early April 2026. The animal was trapped in shallow water and could not return to the deeper North Sea on its own. It took some time to intervene, but an international rescue operation was eventually launched. After all, veterinarians initially judged that Timmy still had a good chance of surviving because he was regularly squirting out water from his air hole and was active. Two wealthy donors convinced a group of experts to set up a drastic plan in an attempt to get him deeper into the sea again.

The initial plan was to spray mud away from under the whale, install air cushions, lift the animal onto a raft and then tow it to the open ocean by tugboat. But the operation was postponed because it was more difficult than expected. The lifting and towing also failed.

Moreover, not everyone thought the rescue attempt was wise. Some experts warned that after several weeks in shallow water, a humpback whale was too exhausted to be rescued.

On May 4, 2026, the press reported that it was "highly likely" that Timmy was no longer alive after the failed rescue attempt and his second release into the North Sea. On Wednesday, that news was unfortunately officially confirmed. The stranded animal near Anholt, Denmark, was indeed found to be Timmy. So although the animal had made it to the North Sea, it did not survive the journey.

Responsibility for the carcass now lies with the Danish authorities. These have warned people to stay away from the animal. After all, the dead whale may contain diseases transmissible to humans. There is also a risk of explosion due decomposition releases gases that cannot escape through the whale's thick skin. On Sunday, the Coast Guard already sent away several beachgoers who came to take a look. Some sightseers, however, went much further. Images are now circulating showing someone standing on the whale's carcass to take pictures.

©picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Golejewski - The photo shows veterinarians examining the lifeless body of the humpback whale.