German minister wades into whale rescue as Timmi operation delayed PHOTO

The rescue of a whale named Timmi, stranded in shallow waters off the island of Poel in Germany’s Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania region, has been delayed by several days.

The animal has been stuck in the Kirchsee area on the edge of Wismar Bay, where water depth is less than 1.2 metres, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

Although it was briefly freed during a recent high tide, it later became stranded again. Efforts to guide it back into deeper waters using boats have so far been unsuccessful.

The regional agriculture minister, Till Backhaus of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has remained on site for several weeks, saying he will stay until the situation is resolved. On Friday, he entered the water in protective gear and spent around half an hour standing waist-deep near the animal.

A privately organised effort is currently under way to dredge a channel approximately 110 metres long and up to 2 metres deep in an attempt to lead the whale back to a navigable shipping route. Most of the excavation work has already been completed.

Officials now say the animal’s release is expected either on Sunday or Monday, depending on weather conditions and tidal levels.

By Aghakazim Guliyev