Whale strandings draw emotional responses. But repeated rescues can cause more harm

Rescuers placing wet towels on 'Timmy', the whale stranded near Wismar, Germany. Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images

A humpback whale repeatedly restranding in shallow waters in the Baltic Sea for more than three weeks has become the focus of a complex debate about reconciling compassion for animals with ethical, evidence-based decision making.

Affectionately known as Timmy, the whale restranded several times and has been growing weaker, failing to recover despite multiple rescue attempts.