Mystery surrounds new humpback whale sighting in Danish waters after 'Timmy' drama

A humpback whale has been sighted in Danish waters, raising questions about its identity and origin, particularly following the recent death of another humpback whale, known as "Timmy."

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We looked into the water below us - and suddenly something white and pointed appeared and glided slowly under the bridge.

The latest sighting occurred when Danish tourist guide Linda Frølund Hansen filmed the animal from a bridge over the Little Belt strait, a waterway separating Denmark's Jutland peninsula from the island of Funen. Hansen initially mistook the surfacing object for a kayak but quickly realized it was a whale.

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And then there was no doubt anymore: It was a whale!

Wal expert Peter Teglberg Madsen confirmed the animal in the footage is a humpback whale. However, he stated that it is impossible to assess the whale's health based solely on the provided images. The Danish public has shown significant interest in the whale, especially after the widely publicized rescue attempt and subsequent death of "Timmy" earlier in the spring.

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It is certainly a humpback whale. However, I cannot judge from the pictures alone whether it is sick.

Biologist Carl Kinze from the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen noted that humpback whale populations in the North Atlantic are steadily increasing. This growth, he explained, leads to more frequent sightings in Danish waters, with at least one whale appearing each year in recent times. Kinze suggested that these could be young whales exploring new territories or searching for food sources, which might lead them into Danish waters. The recent appearance of this humpback whale adds another chapter to the ongoing presence of these marine mammals in the region.

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Therefore, more and more humpback whales are appearing in our waters. In recent years, there has been one every year - and sometimes even several.