Germany defends rescue of stranded whale “Timmy”

German authorities have defended their decision to attempt a risky rescue of a stranded humpback whale, known as “Timmy”, even though experts said it was unlikely to survive. Experts had recommended leaving the injured whale to die in peace. But a German minister called the rescue attempt “perfectly human”. The whale was first spotted stranded on a sandbank near Timmendorfer beach, on Germany’s coast, nearly two months ago. The saga has gripped the country since then.