The humpback sperm whale that made headlines for spending more than a month stranded on the German coast of the Baltic Sea has been found dead off the Danish coast. Denmark's Environmental Protection Agency confirmed on Saturday that the cetacean, identified as Timmy, was carrying a tracking device attached during its rescue. Divers managed to photograph its dorsal fin and recover the transmitter, confirming its identity after a final journey that did not have a happy ending.
The tracking device that gave away its identity 🐋
The tracking system placed on Timmy during its rescue in Germany was key to its identification. Danish divers recovered the transmitter, whose design and position on the dorsal fin matched the records of the German operation. These types of devices, used to monitor migrations and behavior patterns, are usually attached with suction cups and have a limited battery life. In this case, the device outlived the animal, allowing the circle to be closed on a story that began with a stranding and ended with a forensic discovery in Danish waters.
Timmy: from media star to museum piece 🎬
Timmy had more screen time than many B-list actors. After a month stranded in Germany, it managed to escape, only to be found dead in Denmark. At least now its tracking device will serve a purpose beyond letting biologists know where it shouldn't have gone. Perhaps its last journey was a poorly planned tourist tour: it visited two countries and didn't pay a single euro in tolls. Rest in peace, Timmy, your GPS battery has run out.