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| http://www.killingkeiko.com/about/ |
Keiko
the killer whale was captured within the territorial waters off Iceland 1979.
'Keiko' was then taken to a holding
tank in a zoo in Iceland at Saedyrasfnid. He was then purchased and transferred
to the Marineland in Ontario, Canada in 1982. In 1985, 'Keiko' was sold to the
Reino Aventura theme park in Mexico.
In 1992, the Warner Brothers film
company start production of Free Willy; an emotive tale of a young boy
who befriends a lone orca displayed in an amusement park. The films plot
involves the fictional park's unscrupulous owners who plan to stage an accident
to kill Willy and thus collect a large sum of insurance money. The film ends
with the whale being rescued and freed by the young boy. 'Keiko' and his
location were considered ideal for the film; he was an isolated animal living
in facilities that many countries would not legally allow for the accommodation
and care of orcas.
The film was released in 1993 and
becomes a box office success. However, the film generated negative publicity
for the condition of the films actual animal star lived in. Pressure is placed
upon the park owners to improve 'Keiko''s conditions.
In 1995, the Free Willy-Keiko
Foundation was formed to raised funds for acquiring 'Keiko' and move him from
the park to better conditions. A purpose built pool for 'Keiko' in the US at
Oregon Coast Aquarium and he was moved there in January 1996.
During his time at Oregon disputes
arise as to his health status between the aquarium and 'Keiko''s owners the
Free Willy 'Keiko' Foundation. These appear to be resolved when a blue ribbon
panel of marine mammal experts is commissioned to investigate 'Keiko''s health
status.
In 1998 plans are presented to move
'Keiko' to a sea pen in Icelandic water with the plans to attempt to
rehabilitate him for release back to the wild. The Icelandic government agrees
to the animal being move to sea pen within their territorial waters.
In September 1998 'Keiko' is moved to a
large purpose built sea pen in Iceland.
On March 16, 1999 the Free Willy Keiko
Foundation has merged with Jean-Michel Cousteau to form the Ocean Futures
Society. 'Keiko''s role is now a global ambassador for the oceans.
In the spring of 2002, the Humane
Society of the United States (HSUS) took over the care for 'Keiko' from Ocean
Futures. He was released back into the wild but was tracked heading for Norway
where he eventually was discovered seeking human inaction and begging for food.
'Keiko' remained in this location and
continued to interact with people; he was supplied with food from appointed
caretakers. On Friday 12 December 2003 he died was buried on Monday 15 December
2003 in a field near the Norwegian Taknes fjord that had become his home. His
caretakers claim he likely died of pneumonia. It is unclear if a full
post-mortem was not undertaken on the animal to determine his actual cause of
death.
'Keiko' never fully integrated into the
wild and continued to seek human company and was still receiving husbandry
support from keepers due to the failure of his reintroduction program up to the
time of his death. The project to release 'Keiko' is estimated to have cost
around 20 million US dollars.
From Captivity to the Wild and Back: An Attempt to Release Keiko the Killer Whale.
Simon, M., M.B. Hanson, L. Murrey, J. Tougaard, and F. Ugarte. 2009. Marine Mammal Science/ 25(3): 693-705
'The release of Keiko demonstrated that release of
long-term captive animals is especially challenging and while we as humans
might find it appealing to free along-term captive animal, the survival and
well being of the animal may be severely impacted in doing so.'
Killing Keiko: The True Story of Free Willy's Return to theWild
by Mark A. Simmons
“Among the misinformation and cacophony regarding the public display and release of whales and dolphins,animal behavior and marine mammal expert, Mark Simmons, provides a compassionate and deeply challenging account of the failed experiment to release a killer whale named Keiko. In Killing Keiko, Mr. Simmons sets the record straight and details why the unfortunate star of Free Willy was not ultimately a release candidate and why human agendas led to his death.
A video of a presentation that Mark Simmons gave regarding Keiko and the wider issues of of the releasing cetaceans back the wild and and so called sanctuaries.
by Mark A. Simmons
“Among the misinformation and cacophony regarding the public display and release of whales and dolphins,animal behavior and marine mammal expert, Mark Simmons, provides a compassionate and deeply challenging account of the failed experiment to release a killer whale named Keiko. In Killing Keiko, Mr. Simmons sets the record straight and details why the unfortunate star of Free Willy was not ultimately a release candidate and why human agendas led to his death.
A video of a presentation that Mark Simmons gave regarding Keiko and the wider issues of of the releasing cetaceans back the wild and and so called sanctuaries.
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| Release is not the answer. |
