The carcass of Timmy, the stranded humpback whale that moved the world, has been recovered after 4 attempts: we will finally know the causes of death

After four failed attempts, the giant carcass of the humpback whale Timmy was finally washed up on the beach on the Danish island of Anholt in the Kattegat. An operation that lasted about two hours and required specialized means and great caution, given the size of the animal and the particularly delicate condition of its body.

The whale story had already attracted the attention of the media and public opinion in several European countries. The cetacean had become the symbol of a desperate fight for survival after it ran aground and after numerous attempts to bring it back to the open sea, which unfortunately were unsuccessful. A story that had moved thousands of people and sparked debate among experts, environmentalists and authorities on excessive fury.

A carcass still considered dangerous

Even if recovery has been successfully completed, the risk is not yet completely overcome. Specialists have in fact highlighted that the internal decomposition of the whale could cause accumulations of gas that could make the carcass potentially unstable.

According to the assessments of the experts, there was a danger that portions of tissue and flesh could be projected outside due to internal pressure. Furthermore, experts point out that a carcass of this size can harbor bacteria, viruses and pathogens, which is why the area has been cordoned off with safety tapes and access is strictly controlled.

The autopsy that could reveal the mystery

Timmy will remain on the beach until Thursday, when a complex autopsy lasting about six hours will begin. The examination will be carried out directly on site and will be followed with great interest by the scientific community. The main goal is to accurately determine the cause of death. One of the most popular hypotheses concerns the possible involvement of a fishing net, which would have seriously compromised the animal’s condition.

Danish biologist Peter Teglberg Madsen, one of the country’s leading cetacean experts, believes it is likely that the whale was already extremely debilitated before the rescue attempts. According to the expert, the analysis of the lungs will be able to clarify whether Timmy died from drowning or suffocation. Madsen also argued that the cetacean showed clear signs of illness and weakness, conditions that often characterize animals that repeatedly become stranded.

The enormous risks of fishing nets return to the center of the debate

For these reasons Timmy’s story does not end with the recovery of the carcass. For many marine biologists, however, it represents an opportunity to draw attention to the effects of fishing nets and the risks that they can represent for large marine mammals.

While the wait grows for the results of the public autopsy, which the press and onlookers will be able to attend while maintaining a safe distance, the image of a humpback whale remains, which in spite of itself has become a symbol of the fragility of marine ecosystems and of the challenges that still await the conservation of ocean fauna.

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