The humpback whale, which had initially been rescued from a shallow Baltic Sea cove on the island of Poel, was subsequently released into the North Sea.
According to the private rescue initiative responsible for the operation, the whale was no longer aboard the transport barge by 9:00 a.m. Saturday. It was also absent from the live stream footage of its containment vessel.
The transport faced a setback on Friday. Due to high winds (up to 6 on the Beaufort scale) and significant waves (up to 1.5 meters) in the transition zone between the North and Baltic Seas, the tugboat had to adjust its route and proceed slowly southward. These conditions proved too challenging for the barge transporting the animal.
That evening, an unexpected incident occurred: around 7:20 p.m., the humpback whale began moving purposefully toward the barge’s exit, suggesting it was trying to free itself prematurely. Despite the struggles, the planned release into the North Sea eventually took place. However, experts in animal welfare caution that the whale cannot yet be considered fully rescued, as it remains uncertain whether it is capable of swimming and feeding normally.