The whale had been spotted since March near the Baltic Sea coast, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. Over the following weeks, its health reportedly deteriorated, while live broadcasts of the rescue efforts went viral on social media.

The situation sparked intense debate among experts and animal welfare groups. Some argued the whale should have been left to die peacefully, while others pushed for an organized effort to return it to the Atlantic.

On Saturday, May 2, Timmy was ultimately transported using a specially designed water-filled barge, towed by a rescue vessel, and released about 45 miles off the coast of Skagen, Denmark.

‘Timmy’ the humpback whale was released in the North Sea after weeks stranded in shallow waters near Germany. Read more: https://t.co/HcFrRsm0ly pic.twitter.com/xwIrO7TUzw

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 3, 2026

However, just hours later, serious concerns emerged that the whale may not have survived.

“It is very likely it has died”

According to experts, Timmy’s condition prior to the transfer had already raised alarm. Some scientists believed the whale had moved into shallow waters due to exhaustion and a need to rest.

Whale researcher Fabian Ritter told German media that if the tracking transmitter placed on the animal fails to send data, it would be “a total disaster both for the whale and the rescue team.”

The problem is that, according to Karin Walter-Mommert, who helped fund the operation, the tracking device meant to transmit data on the whale’s vital signs is not functioning.

This means authorities and scientists currently do not know where Timmy is—or even whether it is still alive.

Burkard Baschek of the Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund had already warned last week that releasing the whale into open waters could put it at risk of drowning.

Meanwhile, Danish and German scientists are now calling for full transparency and the release of all data from the rescue operation. Danish marine biologist Peter Madsen described the lack of information about the whale’s condition as “unusual and wrong.”

Attention has also been drawn to the fact that Karin Walter-Mommert—who, together with Walter Gunz, funded part of the mission—publicly distanced herself from the way the whale was released.

In a statement, she said: “We explicitly distance ourselves from the events and from the manner in which the whale was released.”

She added that any responsibility should be sought among the owners, operators, and crews of the vessels involved in the mission.

At the same time, drone footage showed a whale swimming and spouting water near the barge after the release, although it has not been officially confirmed that it was indeed Timmy.

The case continues to attract intense interest in Germany and Denmark, with experts now awaiting any evidence that could determine whether the whale ultimately survived the large-scale rescue effort.