A single minke whale has spent several days lingering in the Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach, and wildlife experts are continuing to monitor it in hopes that it can find its way back to open water.
The whale has been in the harbor for several days, according to both witnesses and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is attempting to help the marine mammal.
The whale does not have any visible injuries or wounds, officials said, and it appears otherwise healthy.
A spokesman for the NOAA tells KTLA that they believe the whale arrived in the harbor in the middle of the night when tides were high. In the evenings that have followed, the tide has continued to lower, and they theorize that could be a reason it hasn’t left on its own accord.
A large bridge also casts a shadow in the water, which may be confusing the whale, that official added.
Crews were removing obstacles from the harbor Thursday afternoon in hopes of encouraging the whale to leave.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is also monitoring the whale’s stay.
Shawn Holland, who shared images of the stranded whale with KTLA Thursday afternoon, said the animal had been circling in the harbor for at least three days.
Minke whales can grow up to 35 feet in length and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. They are typically spotted either alone or in small pods, the NOAA website states.
While not considered endangered or threatened in the United States, minke whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The public is urged to provide the animal and its rescuers space as they attempt to get it back into the open ocean and back on its journey.
