Whales - Folklore

Famous Whales - Keiko

Keiko, made famous by his role in the Warner Bros film Free Willy, was born in 1977 or 1978 near Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean. While still very young (1979), he was captured by the crew on a fishing boat and held in an aquarium in Iceland for 3 years. In 1982, Keiko was bought by Marineland in Canada. Here, he was taught to perform tricks for groups of tourists and locals alike, who would delight in his antics. However, he only stayed at Marineland until 1985, when he was sold to Reino Aventura in Mexico City.

It was here that Keiko tasted fame. In 1992, Warner Bros Studios began to shoot Free Willy, using Keiko as the famous Killer Whale in the title role. The movie tells the story of a young boy, played by Jason James Richter, who befriends an extraordinary Orca. The unlikely pair enjoys a unique friendship, sharing a mutual understanding beyond the comprehension of outsiders that look on. Free Willy was released in 1993 and was an instant hit amongst young and old alike. This success forced an investigation into the living conditions under which Keiko was being kept. These were found to be unacceptable. Together, Warner Bros, animal protection representatives and the park begin to work towards finding Keiko a new home.

1994 saw the development of The Free Willy Foundation, to which Warner Bros and an anonymous donor (later identified as Craig McCaw) donated $4 million. Finally, in 1995, Reino Aventura donated Keiko to The Free Willy Foundation, who moved him to a rehab centre, Oregon Coast Aquarium. At this stage, The Humane Society of the United States also became involved in the rehabilitation and preservation of Keiko. To transport Keiko to the facility, the United Parcel Service sponsored the airlifting of the mere 7720 pounds left of this magnificent animal.

Keiko blossomed in this facility. He gained more than 1000 pounds and his wounds heal well. By the end of 1997, the organisation made a decision to release Keiko into the wild again. Keiko would be moved into a pen off the coast of Iceland. In 1998, medical experts examined Keiko and found him to be healthy enough to survive in the wild. In September, he was airlifted by the US Airforce to Klettsvik Bay.

For a full year, the Killer Whale was under constant surveillance by the Ocean Futures Society, who trained and prepared him for life on his own. A tracking device was put into him and he was allowed to go into the ocean alone for short periods of time. It was noted that he soon began to interact with fellow Orcas, and his mannerisms revert back gradually to those of a wild animal. By 2001, he was spending days away from his pen, even competing with others for food – behavior only typical of wild animals.

In 2002, Keiko was allowed to go on a 1000-mile journey, landing up on the Norway coast. This took him 2 months. On arrival in Norway, he was found to be healthy, meaning that he cared for his own feeding habits for this extended period of time.

At this stage, The Free Willy Foundation and the Humane Society of the United States were handed full management of Keiko by the Craig McCaw Foundation and the Ocean Futures Society. Keiko was nudged into Taknes Bay, where the staff were alert to him and his needs, although he had the freedom that he so desired. The Norwegian government pledged their support in enabling Keiko to develop to a point at which he could safely return to his natural habitat in due time.

In 2003, tragedy struck. Keiko passed away in the Taknes fjord of Norway. The veterinarian diagnosed acute pneumonia, but mentioned that his age also played a part in his unfortunate death as he was the second oldest Orca to be kept in captivity.

Keiko’s story as Free Willy remains a favourite today, and continues to evoke a sense of environmental responsibility, particularly in the minds and hearts of the younger viewers.