Dead humpback whale: Marine mammal washed up in St. Peter-Ording recovered

On Saturday, 11 May 2025, a deceased bull humpback whale was found on the beach of St. Peter-Ording in Schleswig-Holstein. The animal, which was around 10 metres long, was already badly decomposed when it washed ashore around 800 metres south of the pier in the Bad district. A seal hunter discovered the carcass in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. Experts assume that the whale had been floating dead in the water for some time before it was washed up on the beach. The carcass was salvaged by a company on the same day.

Salvage and subsequent investigation

Michael Kruse, head of the national park administration, was on site and described the situation as emotional, but also very professional. "It touches us every time such a large animal washes up," he said. Around 150 interested people watched the rescue work over the course of the day. The local seal hunter and the information ranger from the national park administration informed the onlookers and secured the recovery area. According to Kruse, the co-operation of all those involved was routine and flawless.

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Reaction and smooth process

The recovery of the whale could be carried out quickly, as the company commissioned to do so happened to be on site to demolish an old beach bar. The carcass was lifted into a container and transported to the rendering plant in Jagel in the Schleswig-Flensburg district. Prior to recovery, the local harbour seal hunter took initial samples and measurements in coordination with the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) in Büsum.

Scientific investigation into the cause of death

The remains of the humpback whale are now being further examined by experts from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. The aim is to find out more about the animal's condition and possibly determine the cause of death. The results of these analyses are not expected to be available for several weeks. Such analyses provide important insights into the health of the marine mammals and possible threats to the population.

Humpback whales in the North Sea

Humpback whales belong to the baleen whale family and can reach an impressive size of up to 15 metres. They are rather rare guests in the North Sea, as their natural habitat is the open oceans. They undertake long migrations between their feeding and breeding grounds and can cover thousands of kilometres. Their song is one of the most diverse animal sounds and makes them an exciting species.

Strandings on the North Sea coast - a well-known phenomenon

The stranding of large whales on the North Sea coast has been a well-known phenomenon for years. It is often sperm whales that lose their bearings on their migrations and become stranded in the shallow waters of the North Sea. For humpback whales, however, such strandings are more unusual. It was only on 20 February 2025 that a dead humpback whale was found off the uninhabited island of Minsener Oog in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.