Whale within the Baltic Sea: “It really pisses me off” – marine biologist has little hope and makes severe accusations | EUROtoday

He stood for hours within the chilly sea, cheered on the stranded humpback whale, made certain that the excavator shovels did not come too near the animal whereas digging within the sand – and thus turned the face of the dramatic rescue operation within the Baltic Sea. Now marine biologist Robert Marc Lehmann is making allegations in opposition to a few of these concerned.

Just yesterday, Lehmann obtained on a ship and accompanied the whale, which had beforehand freed itself from its predicament off Timmendorfer Strand, in direction of the North Sea. But then darkness fell and the ships needed to name off the motion.

Since Saturday afternoon it has been clear: the whale has stranded off the coast once more, this time even additional east within the Wismar Bay. Many rescuers have been on website once more, together with the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania water police, workers of the German Oceanographic Museum, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) and the character conservation group Greenpeace. One particular person was lacking this time: Lehmann.

Instead, the marine biologist posts Instagram tales that apparently present him at residence. He explains that he didn’t go away the rescue mission voluntarily. In the assertion, which lasted a number of minutes, Lehmann first thanked the emergency providers on website. Above all, the excavator drivers, who rigorously eliminated the sand close to the mammal, centimeter by centimeter, “did a fantastic job.” The cooperation with the fireplace brigade and police additionally labored “as always”.

But then Lehmann begins to criticize. “The rescue always begins afterwards, when the whale swims freely,” says Lehmann. Then this can be very essential to “guide” the whale and never push, stress or harass it. “Unfortunately,” says Lehmann, “that only took place in the initial phase.”

He himself “actually explained” to the actors concerned information a whale into open water. This requires a number of expertise. “You have to be able to read the whale extremely well. You have to understand whales. You have to understand what you’re doing,” says Lehmann. Only then is it potential to information a whale over lengthy distances.

But he was not invited to implement his plan. He then went onto a ship alone with a helper from a crusing faculty. “I kept the whale from stranding again, otherwise it would have stranded again. And after this action, I was actively excluded from the rescue mission by those responsible on site at ITAW.” By this Lehmann means the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research.

Lehmann confirms that he didn’t go residence voluntarily. “My team and I were prepared for a week-long mission. I would have accompanied the whale all the way to the Atlantic.”

But now the whale has stranded once more – precisely what he mentioned he had predicted to the ITAW workers when he mentioned goodbye. “It really pisses me off too,” the marine biologist vents his frustration.

Lehmann nonetheless sees three choices for the whale

From his standpoint, there have been solely three choices left for the whale that was stranded once more off Wismar. “Another rescue mission from the experts in charge, or let him lie there and die, let nature take its course, or euthanize him.”

The whale’s struggling could possibly be extraordinarily extended if it remained mendacity on the sandbank within the Bay of Wismar. “He is obviously weak, he is obviously sick, he obviously still has ghost nets in his mouth,” says Lehmann, describing the well being of the mammal, which weighs a number of tons. “The seagulls started picking him alive. He’s got wind chill burn, he’s got sunburn, he’s certainly dehydrated.” It is totally unclear when he final ate or whether or not he might eat in any respect due to the nets in his mouth.

The marine biologist explains that the whale’s struggling might proceed for weeks, however euthanizing it and thus saving it will be troublesome. “When it comes to euthanasia, there is not a single reliable method in the world that can reliably kill the whale humanely. No matter how you do it, it will be extremely painful for the animal,” says Lehmann.

He is gloomy in regards to the whale’s destiny, “but I was prepared for it from the start, which is why I can handle it.” As all the time, he’s extra disillusioned with the best way folks and people accountable deal with him. “I think whale experts wear wetsuits and are on the animal,” mentioned Lehmann.

Even although he not offers the whale a fantastic probability of survival, Lehmann says he would not wish to surrender hope utterly. “Maybe a miracle will still happen.” However, the probabilities of this taking place are extraordinarily slim.

WELT requested the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research about Lehmann’s allegations on Saturday night. There has been no reply to date.