Overview

• A 6.5-meter dwarf whale was discovered dead on the eastern side of Minsener Oog, a protected sandbank in the German North Sea.
• Authorities confirmed the whale does not pose a danger to maritime navigation and will likely be left to decompose naturally.
• Marine experts plan to collect tissue samples in the coming days to determine the cause of death, though access to the site is complicated by tides and weather.
• Minsener Oog, an uninhabited bird sanctuary since 1986, restricts public access, further complicating recovery and study efforts.
• This marks the latest in a series of whale strandings in the region since February, which have included sperm and humpback whales.