CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : VALLEJO : Rescued Whale Dies of Unknown Causes

Kogi, a 140-pound pygmy sperm whale found stranded on a Santa Cruz beach Aug. 31, has died after two months of treatment in captivity. The young whale, estimated to be 6 to 18 months old, was under constant watch by California Marine Mammal Center volunteers when he died in a pool at Marine World Africa USA in Vallejo. Veterinarian Laurie Gage said Kogi was underweight and lethargic, although the exact cause of death was unknown pending a post-mortem examination at UC Davis. “Pygmy sperm whales are deep-diving cetaceans,” Gage said. “A healthy animal would be swimming and diving in the pool, but Kogi just floated at the surface.”