Rescued humpback whale freed into the North Sea after dramatic delays

A humpback whale, rescued after stranding in shallow waters, has been released back into the North Sea. The operation faced delays and complications, with experts initially doubting the animal’s chances of survival.

The whale was finally set free on May 2, 2023, after an earlier attempt failed due to poor conditions. The rescue effort began with concerns over the whale’s long-term survival. Animal welfare groups had assessed its prospects as very low before the release. On May 1, a first attempt to free the whale was abandoned as darkness fell.

During transport, rough seas caused minor scratches on the whale’s body. The following day, a second attempt succeeded, and the whale swam away. Jeffrey Foster of the Whale Sanctuary Project was present to oversee the release.

Plans had been made to attach a GPS tracker, approved by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Ministry for the Environment. However, this was never carried out. Karin Walter-Mommert, a financial supporter of the initiative, later confirmed that tracking the whale proved impossible—even though the device emitted signals.

A statement was issued by law firm Cronemeyer Haisch on behalf of JEB Bereederungsgesellschaft and the crew of the tugboat Robin Hood, which assisted in the operation.

Since the release, the whale’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown. The whale was last seen swimming away after its release on May 2, 2023. Without a functional tracker, its location and health cannot be confirmed. The rescue team and backers have no further updates on its survival.