A wayward minke whale that had captivated onlookers in Long Beach has died. The whale, estimated to be 20 to 25 feet long and likely in its teens, washed ashore on Sunday. The Marine Mammal Care Center confirmed to CBS News Los Angeles that the deceased whale is the same one that had been swimming in the harbor earlier this week.

Despite recent efforts by marine wildlife experts to reroute the animal to deeper waters, the minke whale was found dead on Sunday, officials confirmed.

A small whale that drew crowds of people after consecutive sightings in the Long Beach Harbor has died, officials confirmed Sunday. The cause of death is still under investigation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took tissue samples from the deceased whale to conduct exams and determine the possible causes of death.