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March 2, 2003
KEY LARGO -- A pygmy sperm whale that was rescued off the Florida Keys died Saturday, with preliminary findings of a necropsy indicating heart failure was the cause of death.
The death was a surprise to officials at the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo, where the animal was brought to recover after it was found stranded Friday near Islamorada.
"Preliminary findings of a high-level of parasites in the stomach and a severe congestion of the liver, spleen and lungs which would be consistent with heart failure," said Dr. Julia Zaias, veterinary pathologist at the University of Miami.
Thursday, another pygmy sperm whale, nicknamed Kokomo, died after more than a month of treatment. The 1,200-pound mammal was found stranded Jan. 22 off the Upper Keys and spent 12 days recovering in a Islamorada resort's heated saltwater pool.