Authorities say a humpback whale found dead this week off a Danish island has been identified as the animal released two weeks ago in a spectacular and contentious rescue effort.

It was not immediately clear if the whale was Timmy, the humpback whale that captivated Germany for weeks while getting stranded multiple times off the German coast.

Danish authorities confirm a dead humpback whale is the one that had been towed out to sea in a controversial rescue mission after repeated strandings.