Beached whale near Anholt may be humpback Timmy

A dead whale found stranded off the coast of Anholt may be Timmy, the humpback whale previously rescued in a high-profile operation in Germany, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

The 10–15 metre carcass was discovered about 75 metres from the shore in the Flakket nature area. While the species has not yet been confirmed, local authorities suspect it could be the same whale.

Morten Abildstrøm, a ranger with the Danish Nature Agency on Anholt, said researchers in both Denmark and Germany believe it is “highly likely” to be Timmy. A tissue sample will be taken for analysis to confirm the identification.

“We’ll cut a good chunk and divide it into smaller pieces for researchers in both countries,” Abildstrøm said. He will also check for a tag that German authorities placed on Timmy during the rescue.

Timmy made headlines in early March after stranding near Lübeck in northern Germany. After failed attempts to free the whale, a group of German oil industry workers funded its relocation from the Baltic to the North Sea. Its whereabouts had been unknown since.

The whale is believed to have been dead for some time. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency will decide how to handle the carcass.