Barges, Zinc, and Millions of Fans: Behind the Effort to Free Timmy the Whale

Thought Question: What would motivate you to spend time or effort helping someone or something in danger?

A stranded whale is finally headed home.

"Timmy" is a humpback whale. He got stranded off the coast of the Baltic Sea in March. The German media nicknamed him “Timmy.” He quickly captured the attention of the European nation. He was hundreds of miles from the species’ normal Atlantic territory. Humpbacks are almost never seen in such shallow waters. The Baltic is very dangerous for them. Its low salt content poses a threat to the whales’ skin. 

Marine biologists think that Timmy may have chased a school of mackerel into the Baltic’s brackish waters. He may have also sought a shallower sea to escape human deep-sea drilling. Regardless of the reason for his arrival, it quickly became apparent that Timmy was in trouble. He was tangled in fishing nets. He already showed signs of a skin disease. His swimming became sluggish. Eventually, he beached on a sandbar.

Hundreds of people lined the beaches to watch as officials tried to lead Timmy to safety. Construction crews dug deeper trenches in the sand to help him escape. Veterinarians applied dozens of gallons of zinc medication to the whale’s skin. None of it seemed to work, though. Despite public outcries, government officials said there was nothing more that could be done.

A group of well-funded whale well-wishers disagreed.

Donors paid millions to construct a specialized barge that could carry the 26,000-pound whale. The project’s backers managed to coax Timmy into the unique vessel. The barge was like a giant swimming pool build onto a boat. It brought Timmy all the way to the deep waters of the North Sea. He was released there Saturday.

Walter Gunz, among those who dedicated millions of dollars to the project, told The New York Times: “He is doing well!”

Photo of humpback whale courtesy Wwelles14 on Wikimedia Commons.