Communicating complex timelines is challenging and can be critical. I built this interactive data visualisation as a case study to demonstrate how mapping complex, multi-stage events can instantly generate a clearer picture and turn raw data into a story.
How interactive data visualisation helps us understand a complex marine rescue operation.
Fig 1. | Geographic trajectory of Megaptera novaeangliae (Timmy) during the 2026 Baltic Sea stranding event. Plotted over base cartography, detailing the net entanglements, the strandings, the rescue operation, and the eventual death.
Observation Log
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The Science Behind the Stranding: Why the Baltic Sea is a Trap for Whales
To understand why Timmy, the humpback whale ended up in the Baltic Sea, why the €1.5M “Operation Cushion” was initiated and if at that point it was helpful or causing a dying anmial additional stress, we need to look at the biology of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the unique geography of the Baltic Sea.
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The Species: Humpback whales are massive, deep-water marine mammals capable of growing up to 16 meters (52 feet) long. They are known for undertaking some of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth, traveling between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding waters.
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The Navigation Error: Occasionally, young or disoriented whales take a wrong turn from the North Sea into the straits leading to the Baltic Sea. The Baltic is essentially a large, shallow, enclosed sea with very narrow exits. Once a whale enters, finding the way back out is like trying to escape from a maze.
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The Low Salinity: The Baltic Sea is “brackish”, which means it consists of a mix of saltwater and freshwater. For a marine mammal, this is quite dangerous. The lower salt content reduces their natural buoyancy, which causes the whale to expend far more energy to stay afloat and avoid being crushed by its own weight in shallow areas. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to fresh water causes severe, painful skin degradation and infections.
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A Race Against Time: Because the Baltic lacks the deep-water food sources (like massive swarms of krill) that humpbacks require, a stranded whale faces starvation, exhaustion, and organ failure. This tight timeline is what prompted the unprecedented, and controversial, decision to transport “Timmy” over 400km via the flooded cargo barge, Fortuna B.
Sources & Further Reading:
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NOAA Fisheries: Humpback Whale Species Profile.
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International Whaling Commission (IWC): Guidelines for Large Whale Entanglement Response.
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Baltic Sea Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM): Salinity and Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea Basin.
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(Note: Coordinates in the visualizer are approximate, based on public tracking data from May 2026).
Custom Data Visualisation Services: Tell Your Project's Story
Whether you are a researcher, a startup founder, or a project manager, you need your audience to understand your data easily.
In addition to my consulting services, I also design custom, interactive data visualisations (like the one above) that turn tough questions into clear, engaging web experiences.