Experts from the German Marine Museum in Stralsund have concluded that the Beluga whale, which stranded multiple times in the Baltic Sea, is likely deceased. According to the museum’s statement on Tuesday, the whale was in an extremely weakened condition, and its repeated stranding immediately following previous rescue efforts strongly suggests it lacked the necessary strength to swim long-term in deep water. As of the museum’s last report, the whale was last sighted in the open sea on May 2nd at 9:24 AM using a drone, and no further verifiable information regarding its location or health status has become available.
The museum, which conducts its own research projects on marine environmental issues, emphasized the crucial need for reliable evidence concerning such private rescue missions. The scientists stressed that verifiable scientific data is immensely important for handling future strandings of large whales. Specifically, they require the precise model of the tracker, photographic proof of the attachment location and type on the whale, the complete raw data transmissions, and access to a live data stream. They noted that while verifiable information about the whale’s condition is of great scientific and public interest, this data should also be prioritized for the private initiative’s own benefit.
The report shifted focus to broader ecological concerns. Although Belugas rarely become lost in the Baltic Sea, the region faces other significant threats. Annually, dozens of porpoises are found dead along the German Baltic coast, with some studies estimating hundreds of deaths each year in the western Baltic Sea. The biggest danger to marine mammals comes from fine nylon mesh net installations-nets used for locating whales that are nearly invisible. Entangling porpoises cannot resurface to breathe and consequently drown. The porpoise population in the central Baltic Sea is already endangered, and populations in the western Baltic Sea are also seeing a noticeable decline.
