German rescuers delay whale rescue operation using air cushions until Friday

We have decided that a rescue of the whale, while it is still alive, can go ahead. We are thus opening up the possibility, for the first time, of returning the animal to its natural habitat

Till Backhaus, Environment Minister — Euronews

The whale's condition remains critical. Wildlife experts believe it became entangled in fishing nets before stranding and is suffering from skin problems caused by the Baltic Sea's lower salt content compared to its natural Atlantic habitat.

Previous rescue attempts failed when the whale repeatedly swam toward shallow waters instead of deeper channels dug by excavators. Officials had concluded by April 1 that the badly injured animal would die and could no longer be saved.

Timmy's plight has captivated Germany, sparking regular demonstrations and online campaigns. The intense public interest prompted authorities to establish an exclusion zone after a 67-year-old woman jumped from a boat to approach the whale over the weekend.

The prognosis remains critical. But a chance of survival cannot be completely ruled out

Till Backhaus, Environment Minister — BBC

Greenpeace Germany, involved in earlier rescue efforts, opposes this latest attempt due to the whale's deteriorated health. Wildlife experts from the German Oceanographic Museum and Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research have expressed similar concerns about intervention risks.

The rescue operation's delay raises questions about whether the weakened whale can survive until Friday's attempt, and whether the untested air cushion method will prove more successful than previous efforts.