THIS is the amazing moment a young humpback whale who was fighting for its life after becoming stranded in shallow waters is hauled back out to sea.
Rescuers strapped the giant creature to a water-filled vessel off Germany’s Baltic coast in the bold liberation mission.
Rescuers helped him onto a water-filled barge to take him back to deeper watersCredit: Cover Images
Timmy the whale has began his journey back to the North SeaCredit: Reuters
Named Timmy, the juvenile male caught a ride on a makeshift barge normally used to transport ships.
The stranded 32ft whale was stuck in the shallow waters for four weeks before the last resort rescue mission was planned.
The privately funded initiative to save the whale saw rescuers use straps to guide Timmy through a newly dredged channel and onto the water filled barge.
On Wednesday, his journey back to the North Sea began, after being stuck and alone in the shallow bay near Wismar.
Rescuers worked to help the stranded 32ft whale out of the shallow watered-cageCredit: AFP
The rescue mission has sparked widespread public debate in GermanyCredit: Reuters
Timmy is being transported in a barge that normally transports other shipsCredit: Cover Images
The journey will take him around the northern tip of Denmark.
The German rescue operation has sparked debate with animal activists arguing over how best to help the marine mammal.
This was not the first time he has been rescued, as he was freed from shallow waters in late March.
Experts from the German Oceanographic Museum said they had doubts over Timmy’s chances of survival.
Rescuers spoke to media after the whale was ushered onto the shipCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The rescue mission has two millionaire backers who have not revealed how much it is costing themCredit: Reuters
“The chances of a successful rescue are very slim due to the animal’s poor state of health and the generally poor prognosis,” the museum said in a statement.
It continued, saying the attempt would put a “great deal of stress” on the whale and had a “high risk of injury” that could “result in very high noise levels inside the barge due to the high level of sound reflection”.
Two millionaires stepped up to try and help the stranded animal, including one who is linked to German electronics chain MediaMarkt.
The cost of the rescue has not been made public.
Germany‘s state environment minister Till Backhaus granted permission for the mission to go ahead, despite the concerns that Timmy might not survive the journey.
Scientists said he might be disoriented or ill due to the fact he had become stranded in the low-saline waters, which whales typically avoid.
State officials of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said the plan was to focus on minimising stress for the whale.
And on Tuesday, after some distance, the whale – accompanied by rescuers swimming alongside him – swam straight into the barge.
Cheers of delight from the rescue team followed, as well as from others watching from the shore.
Previous attempts to coach the whale into deeper waters have sparked major public attention.
Efforts included using boats to generate waves.
Authorities rejected public calls to euthanise the whale to end its suffering.
Some even speculated he had swum into the shallow waters to rest.
Members of the public have sent thousands of emails to authorities, with some containing death threats.
Backhaus said criminal complaints would be lodged as necessary.