The whale, nicknamed Timmy, was freed around 9 a.m. local time about 70km off Skagen, Denmark, after Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's environment minister approved the privately proposed operation.
It had been trapped near Wismar since March after entering the Baltic, with failed rescue attempts, worsening health and scientific disagreement over whether transport would further stress the animal.
A GPS transmitter was reportedly attached to monitor its movements, while the whale's plight drew global livestream audiences, protests and debate over whether intervention or letting it die naturally was kinder.
How should future whale strandings balance emotional public demands with scientific evidence and the ethical risks of intervention?
Did rescuing Timmy the whale truly increase his chances of survival, or did public pressure override scientific caution and animal welfare concerns?