Rescuers try to help a stranded humpback whale off the Baltic Sea coast near the island of Poel, near Wismar, northern Germany, on April 16, 2026

Rescuers try to help a stranded humpback whale off the Baltic Sea coast near the island of Poel, near Wismar, northern Germany, on April 16, 2026

 Danny GOHLKE

A private rescue attempt for a whale stranded off Germany's Baltic coast has entered a "decisive phase", officials said Friday, with the sea mammal showing more activity than in recent days.

The 13.5-metre (44-foot) humpback whale's ordeal first began in late March when it was spotted stuck on a sandbank near the city of Luebeck. It first freed itself only to become stuck again further east along the German coast.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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