Autopsy begins on humpback whale Timmy after weeks-long Baltic saga and controversial rescue attempt
Veterinarians and whale experts started the post-mortem of the young humpback whale Timmy on the beach of Anholt island, hoping to learn why the animal died after repeatedly stranding in the Baltic and a thwarted transport to the North Sea.
A long ordeal
The humpback whale was first spotted in early March 2026 in the German port of Wismar, far from its normal migration routes. Over the following weeks, it stranded multiple times along Germany’s Baltic coast, appearing increasingly weakened. In early May, a private initiative authorized by the authorities of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern transported the whale in a metal container on a ship towards the North Sea, against the advice of marine experts. The animal was later found dead, washed ashore on the Danish holiday island of Anholt. Over the weekend, a recovery team managed to drag the carcass onto the beach after four failed attempts, a two-hour operation.
- First sighted in the German port of Wismar, far from normal humpback routes
- Repeated strandings along Germany’s Baltic coast; animal appears increasingly weak
- Private initiative transports whale in a metal box by ship towards the North Sea against expert advice
- Dead whale washes ashore on the Danish island of Anholt
- Recovery team drags carcass onto the beach after four failed attempts
- Autopsy begins on Anholt; expected to last about six hours
Autopsy on the beach
The post-mortem began on the afternoon of 4 June 2026, with a team of veterinarians and whale specialists in protective suits but without masks. A News5 livestream showed them measuring the over-12-metre-long carcass with tape measures, taking notes, and then slicing it open with a long knife to release decomposition gases. The whale was subsequently opened and dissected, with organs and intestines visible around it. The Danish authorities had positioned large containers and special vehicles on the island for the procedure. The autopsy is expected to last about six hours and will include DNA skin samples to confirm the animal’s sex, which is suspected to be female despite the male nickname Timmy.
Security and stench
For weeks, the carcass had lain in shallow water, bloated with putrefaction gases and pecked by seagulls. Authorities warned that the corpse could burst violently during handling, and the area was cordoned off with security tape. Spectators were ordered to keep their distance because of possible bacteria and pathogens. “Anyone who approaches the whale can become infected with diseases, viruses or bacteria. Therefore we limit the number of people at the whale and wear protective clothing, aprons, masks, gloves,” said Danish whale researcher Peter Teglberg Madsen. He added, “The whale has been lying in the sun for a long time and will stink a lot.” A dpa reporter noted that the smell downwind was strong.
The search for answers
Investigators hope to discover what killed the whale. They will look for signs of illness, internal injuries, traces of ingested plastic, and remains of fishing nets, ropes and lines that may have entangled the animal. Madsen cautioned that “it might be too late to discover internal bleeding” and that it may be impossible to tell whether the whale had water in its lungs. Remnants of fishing gear in the stomach and intestines could still be found, however. The environment ministry of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Greenpeace, and the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund followed the procedure via livestream.
We expressly welcome that further knowledge about the condition of the animal is now being gained. The investigation can help answer open questions about its state of health, possible previous illnesses and the causes of its death.
The carcass was expected to remain on Anholt at least through Thursday. Local residents have expressed concern that the malodorous body might deter holidaymakers.
