Humpback whale sighted off German Baltic coast near Heiligenhafen

A large whale, believed to be a humpback, has been sighted in the Baltic Sea near Heiligenhafen, Germany, prompting observations from the German Maritime Museum. The museum received two sighting reports on Thursday between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.

While the provided image and video material is of poor quality, experts suggest the whale's size and appearance are consistent with a humpback. This sighting follows recent observations of a humpback whale off the Danish coast, near Aarhus, and between Jutland and the island of Funen. Danish environmental authorities had previously noted the whale's appearance and behavior suggested it might be ill and urged the public to keep their distance.

The Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Environment later confirmed the sighting of a humpback whale at the entrance to the Kiel Fjord. They believe it is likely the same animal previously observed in Scotland and Denmark. The ministry noted the whale had recently moved slowly back towards open waters after a brief period in shallower areas.

Authorities are emphasizing the importance of maintaining a significant distance from the whale, particularly due to the dense ship and boat traffic in the vicinity, which can cause considerable stress to the animals. The ministry stated they would refrain from closer monitoring of the animal at this time. They have also established a reporting chain to quickly assess and respond to any potential strandings, coordinating with scientific experts, police, and other relevant authorities.