Tourists of the world, stay away from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and its German Oceanographic Museum (Deutsches Meeresmuseum) in Stralsund.
For 14 days, the humpback whale Timmy has been left to die a slow, agonising death in the shallow waters of the Wismarer Bucht. He lies largely motionless, breathing only at long intervals, while suffering severe lung compression, pressure necrosis, hyperthermia, skin blistering and secondary infections. International scientific protocols exist to end his suffering humanely. Yet the government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, led by Environment Minister Till Backhaus, has chosen to do nothing except let him “die in peace”.
This is not compassion. This is political animal cruelty.
The German Meeresmuseum Stralsund has already expressed interest in Timmy’s carcass. After his expected death, the body is to be transported to Dänholm for necropsy, with parts of the skeleton potentially entering the museum’s collection or that of the University of Rostock. The museum, which is largely funded by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the federal government, will receive a complete or near-complete humpback whale skeleton without any purchase cost. Due to strict species protection laws, such specimens cannot be legally bought on the open market. A stranded whale provides the only free and legal way to obtain one.
The close institutional ties are undeniable. The museum’s director stood beside Minister Backhaus during the decisive press conference on April 7, 2026, supporting the decision to abandon further rescue attempts and reject euthanasia. The museum provides scientific advice to the state authorities – and directly benefits from their decision to let Timmy die.
This is not science. This is a conflict of interest dressed up as policy.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has turned itself into the land of political animal cruelty. A place where the suffering of a sentient being is accepted so that a publicly funded institution can secure a valuable specimen for free. A place where animal welfare laws are treated as optional when they conflict with bureaucratic convenience and institutional interests.
Enough is enough.
We call for an immediate tourist boycott of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the German Meeresmuseum Stralsund until the following demands are met:
- A full, independent investigation into the handling of Timmy’s case, including the institutional relationship between the ministry and the museum.
- Public accountability from Minister Till Backhaus for the decision to let Timmy suffer for days instead of using internationally recognized humane options.
- A clear commitment from the state government that animal welfare will no longer be subordinated to scientific or financial interests of publicly funded institutions.
Tourism is one of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s most important economic pillars. If the state chooses to sacrifice ethics and animal welfare for political convenience and institutional gain, then visitors must make their voices heard with their wallets.
Do not visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Do not visit the Meeresmuseum Stralsund.
Do not support a region and an institution that have shown such blatant disregard for the suffering of a living being.
Timmy’s slow death is not just a tragedy. It is a political scandal. Let it be the moment when tourists worldwide say: We will not fund cruelty with our holidays.
Boycott Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Boycott the German Meeresmuseum Stralsund.
Until animal welfare is no longer sacrificed for institutional convenience.
The land of political animal cruelty must pay a price – in lost tourism revenue. Only then might it learn that ethics and morality still matter.
