Activists rally to save 'Hope,' the stranded humpback whale near Wismar

A stranded humpback whale named 'Hope' has been trapped near Wismar since late March. Animal welfare activists gathered in Kirchdorf harbour this week to demand stronger rescue efforts for the distressed animal.

The whale, first sighted along the Baltic coast in early March, remains in critical condition after becoming entangled and beaching itself on 23 March. The humpback was repeatedly spotted over three weeks before stranding, appearing in locations such as Wismar harbour, Lübecker Bucht, and Timmendorfer Strand. By 23 March, it had washed ashore near Wismar, prompting initial rescue attempts.

Authorities established a 500-metre exclusion zone around the whale to prevent disturbances. Drone flights were banned in the area, with violations treated as regulatory offences. Despite these measures, rescue operations were paused on Wednesday after experts determined the whale's condition had deteriorated beyond recovery.

In response, around 50 protesters from the group Save the Ocean staged a demonstration in Kirchdorf harbour. Holding signs with messages like 'Your ignorance kills' and 'Failure to help is not an accident. It's a choice,' they formed a human chain from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The organisation, which campaigns for marine conservation, called for greater intervention to save the whale.

If the animal dies, its body will be transported to the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. The whale's fate remains uncertain, though rescue teams have suspended active efforts due to its weakened state. Should it not survive, the examination in Stralsund will provide further details about the circumstances leading to its stranding. For now, the exclusion zone and drone restrictions stay in place to minimise further stress on the animal.