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Kieko Dies in Norway

December 12, 2003

The Free Willy Keiko Foundation and The HSUS reported today that Keiko, the famous 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 (HSIAsia's parent organization) 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.

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."

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The Keiko Project:

Returning Keiko to the Wild

The efforts to return Keiko to the wild essentially started in 1993, shortly after the orca starred in the family film, Free Willy. That's when millions of people learned the truth about the killer whale's captivity in Mexico City, where the movie was shot. The irony of Keiko's living conditions was not lost on fans of the film about freeing a captive whale.

Ten years after Free Willy, Keiko had made many strides, large and small, toward achieving that ultimate goal: rejoining the wild from which he was captured in 1979. He was moved from Mexico City to a multi-million-dollar facility in Oregon to Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, where he spent nearly four years re-learning the behaviors of a wild orca.

The Keiko Project is unlike any wildlife rehabilitation project before it. No one has ever attempted to reintroduce a whale to the wild after such a long period of captivity. Because of its enormity, the project has had many important benefactors, supporters, and caretakers: Earth Island Institute, the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation, Warner Bros., Oregon Coast Aquarium, Craig McCaw, the Wendy P. McCaw Foundation, Ocean Futures Society, and The Humane Society United States (HSUS).

The HSUS was a prominent engineer of Keiko's road to freedom. It was significantly involved in moving him from his abysmal conditions in Mexico City to his state-of-the-art facility at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and it has supported Ocean Futures, which managed the Keiko Project in Iceland.

Keiko means "lucky one" in Japanese.

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Keiko's Story: The Timeline

1977 or 1978: Keiko is born in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland.

1979: Keiko is captured and brought to Saedyrasfnid, an Icelandic aquarium.

1982: Marineland in Ontario, Canada, buys Keiko, where he begins his training and performs for the public. Skin lesions first appear.

1985: Marineland sells Keiko to Reino Aventura, an amusement park in Mexico City, for $350,000.

1992: Warner Bros. Studios begins filming Free Willy on location in Mexico City. The plot involves a young boy saving a killer whale, portrayed by Keiko, from an unscrupulous marine park owner.

1993: Free Willy is a surprise hit at the theaters, especially with millions of schoolchildren around the world. That support, along with media coverage detailing Keiko's unacceptable living conditions in Mexico City, prompts the movie studio, the park, and animal protection advocates to find Keiko a new home.

1994: Earth Island Institute, an environmental advocacy group for marine animals, begins discussions with the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. After the aquarium meets preliminary requirements, the institute begins negotiations with the aquarium. The Free Willy Foundation is formed in November with a $4 million donation from Warner Bros., and an anonymous donor.

1995: The Mexico City amusement park donates Keiko to the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation. The foundation announces Keiko will live at a new, $7.3 million rehabilitation facility at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, with the hope that he eventually will be returned to the North Atlantic. Craig McCaw is revealed as the anonymous donors of $2 million, which helped start the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation. The Humane Society of the United States donates $1 million to the foundation, and children around the world begin sending in money for Keiko's freedom. Free Willy 2 is released on home video; each video carries a request for donations to the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation.

1996: United Parcel Service delivers Keiko to the aquarium on January 7. Weighing just 7,720 pounds, Keiko is placed in his new pool and experiences sea water for the first time in 14 years. Keiko gains more than 1,000 pounds by year's end, and his skin lesions begin to fade.

1997: Keiko's staff begins introducing him to live fish in May, in an effort to teach him to hunt for food. His skin lesions have all disappeared. At first, he does not eat the fish, but brings them to his trainers. He catches and eats his first fish in August. By June, Keiko weighs 9,620 pounds. The staff of the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation sets a goal of releasing Keiko into a pen in the North Atlantic by 1998. Keiko suffers from a possible liver ailment and respiratory infection, but responds to treatment.

2002: 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. Thousands of people visited Kieko in Norway.

2003: December 12, Kieko dies of respiratory failure and the world mourns the loss of it's most famous whale.