Overview
- The whale was reported to the Wasserschutzpolizei by the Hafenamt Wismar at about 09:00 on Monday and is under continuous observation by police and state environmental officials.
- Officials estimate the animal is roughly eight metres long and say it appears vital, surfacing regularly and diving again during monitoring.
- The species has not been conclusively identified and local reports say the whale’s skin may look poor, so experts are treating the situation as a live animal at risk of stranding.
- Authorities have asked sport boaters and watersports users to keep a large distance while they coordinate a disturbance‑free escort back to deeper water and manage safety for commercial traffic.
- The sighting renews public attention to this year’s prior episode involving the whale nicknamed 'Timmy', when private rescue actions, a transmitter and later identification of a dead whale near Anholt raised questions about rescue practices and cross‑border monitoring in the shallow, sandbank‑prone Wismarer Bucht.