Second humpback whale dies in German lagoon, likely from infection

A second humpback whale has died in Germany's Greifswalder Bodden, raising concerns after a similar death just three months prior. The recent discovery of a male whale, estimated to be three to four years old and weighing seven tons, has prompted a preliminary investigation by the German Oceanographic Museum.

Scientists suspect a bacterial infection, possibly sepsis, as the cause of death. They found two abscesses on the whale's rear back, one extending from the bone to the surface, causing porosity in the vertebrae. Additional abscesses filled with pus were discovered along the spine and on the right flipper's ball joint. The whale's skin was discolored and showed extensive loss of the upper layer, suggesting a severe infection.

Further examination revealed the whale's stomach and intestines were empty, with only a small amount of content in the large intestine. This indicates a prolonged period of starvation. A minor parasite infestation was found in the blubber near the left shoulder blade, but the rest of the animal was parasite-free. No external injuries from ship propellers or nets were observed.

The whale was found floating on its back last Thursday. The German Oceanographic Museum estimates it died on Wednesday or Thursday of the previous week. The carcass was externally fresh, but decomposition had begun due to high temperatures, causing the body to partially inflate with gases. Despite the challenging conditions, including 30-degree Celsius heat during the examination, scientists were able to collect some tissue samples, though brain, lung, and kidney samples were no longer viable.