WASHINGTON, DC -- The Free Willy Keiko Foundation and The HSUS
reported today that Keiko, the orca whale, died today in the
Taknes Fjord, Norway, in the company of staff members who have
been caring for him there.
Keiko’s veterinarian believes that acute pneumonia is the
most likely cause of death, though he also cited that Keiko was
the second oldest male orca whale ever to have been in
captivity.
The two organizations managing Keiko’s reintroduction effort
expressed sadness at Keiko’s death while also heralding his
amazing journey.
David Phillips, president and founder of the Free Willy –
Keiko Foundation stated, “Rescuing Keiko from a cramped pool in
Mexico and bringing him back to his home waters is the most
spectacular effort ever launched for an animal.” He continued:
“Keiko was a champion; the most incredible whale.”
Paul Irwin, president of The HSUS added: “Our intention from
the very beginning, over a decade ago, was to provide Keiko
with the chance for freedom, and that is exactly what he got.
He came a long, long way and showed that returning captive
whales to the wild is not simply a dream.”
Dr. Lanny Cornell, Keiko’s lead veterinarian and a world
renowned expert on orca care, stated: “The most likely cause of
death is from acute pneumonia, though it must be noted that at
age 27, Keiko was one of only two male orca whales ever to have
survived past 25 years in captivity.” He continued: “We have
monitored Keiko’s health very closely, and until only a day ago
his appetite, activity and blood tests were all excellent.”
Yesterday, Keiko exhibited signs of lethargy and lack of
appetite. Consultation was continuous between his caretakers
and Dr. Cornell. His behavior was still abnormal this morning
and his respiratory rate was irregular, but unfortunately these
were apparently advanced signs of his condition. It is often
the case that caretakers of whales and dolphins are unaware of
a problem until the animal is near death, as wild animals often
mask illness to avoid predation or loss of social status. With
little warning, Keiko beached himself and died in the early
evening local time.
A decade ago, Keiko was featured in the Hollywood movie,
Free Willy, prompting a worldwide effort to rescue him
from poor health, in an attempt to allow him to be the first
orca whale ever returned to the wild.
In 1996, Keiko was flown aboard a United Parcel Service
plane to a new rehabilitation facility in Newport, Oregon.
There he was returned to health and trained in the skills
necessary to be a wild whale. In late 1998, Keiko was flown in
a U.S. Air Force jet to a sea-pen in Iceland. In the summer of
2002, Keiko joined the company of wild whales and swam nearly
1,000 miles to the Norwegian coast. Since then, Keiko has been
cared for in a fjord where he was free to come and go by his
own choice.
Keiko inspired millions of children to get involved in
following his amazing odyssey and helping other whales. Keiko’s
journey also inspired a massive educational effort around the
world and formed the basis for several scientific studies.
Thousands of people traveled to Norway in the past year to see
Keiko, continuing his legacy as the most famous whale in the
world.
Phillips stated: “Keiko was a trailblazer, the first orca
whale ever rescued from captivity. There’s still a lot of work
to be done to see that captive whales are given a chance to be
free. Keiko showed what is possible if these animals are just
given the chance.”
Irwin stated: “From the beginning, we did the right thing
for Keiko and we intend to continue the fight to keep whales
free.”
More information about Keiko and a timeline of his amazing
journey to freedom can be found on The HSUS web site at
www.hsus.org.
