Underweight Young Humpback Whale Found Dead on Protected North Sea Island

Experts identify the 7.4-meter-long male as malnourished, with further analysis underway to determine the cause of death.

The carcass of a 7.4-meter-long young male humpback whale was discovered on the uninhabited island of Minsener Oog in the North Sea by a helicopter pilot.
Initial examinations revealed the whale was underweight, likely surviving off its fat reserves, and had intestinal parasites, though the exact cause of death is still unknown.
The island, part of the strictly protected Nationalpark Wattenmeer, cannot be accessed by the public, and the whale carcass is not available for viewing.
Experts collected tissue samples for further analysis, but there are no plans to remove the carcass unless it poses a risk to ship navigation.
Strandings of large whales in the North Sea are rare but documented, with humpback whales being occasional visitors to the region.