Denmark Investigates Whether Dead Humpback Whale Is Germany's Timmy
Investigation into the Identity of the Dead Humpback Whale
Discovery of the Whale
STOCKHOLM, May 15 (Reuters) - Danish authorities were checking on Friday if a dead whale found in its waters might be a humpback nicknamed Timmy whose protracted rescue and release captivated neighbouring Germany.
Background: Timmy's Rescue Operation
Rescue and Release Efforts
The juvenile male was guided through a freshly dredged channel onto a water-filled barge before being taken out to the North Sea earlier this month in an operation funded by two wealthy Germans off Timmendorfer beach for which it was named.
Public Reaction in Germany
That split public opinion, with some Germans saying it would be better to put down the whale as it appeared to be disoriented or ill and would suffer too much stress in the operation.
Current Investigation in Denmark
Location and Identification Efforts
Denmark's Environmental Protection Agency said the dead humpback found near the small island of Anholt in the Kattegat strait about 200 km (124 miles) away could be Timmy and tissue samples had been collected for potential identification.
Official Statement
"This possibility cannot be ruled out," spokesperson Dorte Kofoed said of speculation that it was Timmy.
(Reporting by Jesus Calero and Anna Ringstrom, Editing by Terje Solsvik and Andrew Cawthorne)
