Rare event: Buckelwal view before Baltrum delights experts and residents

Rare event: Buckelwal view before Baltrum delights experts and residents

strange encounter: Buckelwal in the southern North Sea spotted

An unusual visitor surprised the southern North Sea: a rare humpback whale was spotted in front of the East Frisian island of Baltrum. The animal's admission was taken at the end of June by the crew of a survey ship, as Thea Hamm from the National Park Administration of Lower Saxony confirmed in Wilhelmshaven. The expert emphasized the rarity of this event and explained that it was a young humpback whale that is normally not to be found in the German bay.

scientists amazed about unexpected viewing

This is not the only occurrence of a humpback whale in the North Sea recently. Another humpback whale was spotted just six weeks ago, this time by scientists from the Federal Office for Nature Conservation. These researchers are currently examining the presence of whales in the North Sea. The sightings include mink whales, pork whales and of course the rare humpback whale. Interestingly, these observations were not recorded near Baltrum, but around 250 kilometers from Helgoland, in Doggerbank.

interest in the movements of the humpback whales

humpback whales are fascinating living things that usually live in tropical waters in polar seas and for calving. One aspect of their way of life, which has not yet been fully researched, are their migration routes. The exact movement patterns of the humpback whales are largely unknown, but experts believe that they often move west from Iceland and Norway. This curious young animal could have deviated from the usual route for various reasons and explore the North Sea.

protective measures in the Wadden Sea

Although humpback whales are occasionally seen in the German waters, they are rarely guests in the Wadden Sea. Since 2003, observations of individual specimens on the Dutch coast have been made almost annually. It is important to protect the whales in this environment to ensure that they stay safe and healthy. The most recent encounter with the humpback whale in front of Baltrum is a memory of the diversity and beauty of the North German waters.

- Nag