Welcome to KEIKO's Rainbow Residency

Memories of KEIKO

1977 to 12.12.2003 Your music: "ON EAGLES WINGS" 01.01.2010... HAPPY NEW YEAR... xoxo 12.25.2009... MERRY CHRISTMAS... xoxo 11.24.2009... HAPPY THANKSGIVING... xoxo This is the story of KEIKO THE KILLER WHALE. Keiko was the star of the "FREE WILLY" movies. I fell in love with this gorgeous creature, as did many people, when I first saw him. Before I start on his legacy, I will share a little about the killer whale. Many people don't realize that the KILLER WHALE is in fact a type of DOLPHIN. It's known by many names, such as... ORCA, SEA WOLF, BLACKFISH or GRAMPUS. The ORCA name, which means SEA MONSTERS, was given to these whales by the Romans. EVOLUTION & LIFE SPAN: Killer whales, are the largest of the dolphin family & one of the most dangerous creatures alive. The killer whale can weigh up to 6 TONS & they have a life span ranging from 50-80 YEARS. The female has a longer life span... they can live up to 100 years & the male can live up to 70 years. HABITAT & FOOD: The killer whales are usually found in the cold, coastal waters around the world. They have a large population in the northern Pacific basin, coastal areas of Washington State, Johnstone Strait & California. Migration of a species is subject to their prey's living & migration habits. Fish & marine mammals are the preferred choice of ORCA's food, although their diet is a varied mix of seals, sea lions, reptiles & walruses. Even polar bears, birds & penguins have been victims of the killer whale. INTERESTING FACTS: The killer whale NEVER travels or swims in the waters alone. They do have a close "social circle". They travel in huge pods, ranging from a 2-generation group to a group consisting of almost 5-generations. Another interesting feature of the killer whale... their communication skills. They use a technique called "echolocation" to hunt down & navigate their way even in the darkness of the ocean. They will emit a high-frequency wave which bounces back from the prey or an obstructing surface. A rare characteristic of the killer whale is that the entire traveling pod breathes TOGETHER in unison. Many people believe it sprays water through their blowhole, an opening for breathing. But the fact is... a killer whale shoots out a jet of carbon dioxide which comes out in the form of a mist. NOW... the story of KEIKO. KEIKO THE BABY: Keiko was born between 1977 & 1980 in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland. The birth of a killer whale is amazing to witness. They enter the water world tail first & swim alongside their mother. 1979 to 1981... KEIKO THE CAPTURED: Keiko was swimming along with his family eating leftovers from a herring boat when he is captured by a fisherman by the name of JON GUNNARSON. Keiko is caught in a fishing net. He's fighting for his freedom, knowing that he's about to lose that freedom. Knowing that he's about to lose his family. Knowing that he's about to become a prisoner. Can you imagine what he was thinking? As he's being pulled away from his family, his screams can be heard. The screams of his family can be heard. A mother is losing her son. A son is being taken away from his mother. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? The capture of Keiko was NOT an accident. It was deliberate. It was for the almighty DOLLAR. This fisherman was paid $50,000 for the capture of Keiko & was asked to bring Keiko to an Icelandic aquarium. This is a common practice in this area. 1980 to 1982... The Marineland in Ontario, Canada decides to buy Keiko. This poor soul was kept in a warehouse, in a SHALLOW pool WITHOUT sun & out of the view of the public. Sadly, ANOTHER killer whale by the name of JUNIOR, died in this warehouse in 1994. Junior was ONLY 9 yrs. old. He had been held in captivity, in this warehouse for 5 YEARS. 1982... Keiko is brought before the public. Where he is being held, he is being tormented by older, female Orcas. At this time, Keiko is the YOUNGEST of 6 orcas who are performing & he's very timid. And during this time, he if getting skin lesions. 1985... Keiko is now SOLD to Reino Aventura. This is an amusement park in Mexico City. He has been sold for $350,000. Keiko now has to be flown from Canada to Mexico City via an off-duty mail cargo plane. They are thinking that he was flown over US waters, which was to NOT happen due to lack of permits. Keiko is now 7yrs. old. He has become a HUGE attraction in Mexico. This means a large MARKETING bonanza. Keiko is now MADE to perform in 5 shows daily. DAILY!!! KEIKO THE HOSTAGE: The tank that Keiko is kept in is intended for dolphins, NOT whales. This tank is 20 ft. deep, 90 ft. long & 43 ft. wide. Not only is this tank way TOO small BUT the water is kept at 80 degrees & OVER chlorinated, with ARTIFICIAL saltwater. 1991... Reino Aventura has come to realize that Keiko has OUTGROWN his tank. He's also become very unhealthy & death is not too far away, unless he is moved to a better place. Instead of attempting to re-introduce Keiko to the waters where his family are, they try to sell him to SEA WORLD but that doesn't take place. Keiko has been with dolphins in his tank so he has started to reproduce their sounds & even ANSWERS the sounds of the Mexican police sirens. There's a story about one of his caretaker's 18 month old son falling into Keiko's pool, while Keiko is there. According to the caretaker, Keiko raises the boy out of the pool, placing the boy on the walkway, SAVING his life BEFORE anyone knew he had even fallen into the pool. This is also in the "FREE WILLY" movie. According to the movie makers, they were going to use a ROBOT whale for this scene but decided to try Keiko first. Keiko performed this task on the very first take. It was then that the cast & crew became VERY fond of Keiko. 1992... Warner Bros. is now filming "FREE WILLY" on location in Mexico City. This whole thing started out as an ANTI-WHALING documentary. The producers could not find a children's film about whaling but they DID locate a script about a boy saving a captive whale from an unscrupulous marine park owner. Sea World & Miami Seaquarium are asked if they would allow filming in their pools but they turned it down because the theme & ending of the movie were unacceptable to them UNLESS the ending was changed to the whale going to a better aquarium like Sea World. It has been said, that on the last day of filming, Keiko BREECHES repeatedly, something he had NEVER done without being asked... splashing water on the crew... apparently agitated about them leaving. Summer 1993... Reino Aventura decides to cooperate with Warner Bros in taking the FIRST steps in getting Keiko to a better home. Again, he should be re-introduced to his family & the waters. Ken Balcomb, a whale biologist, has been asked to come up with a plan for releasing Keiko. He produces a compilation of EVERY release or attempted release of a whale of dolphin worldwide & a bibliography of any resource that may help carry out Keiko's release. Keiko is examined because of his skin problems & what's discovered is...his problems are ENVIROMENTAL STRESSES not related to any virus... therefore, Keiko is NOT contagious & CAN be released. The movie "FREE WILLY" is a HUGE hit in theaters ALL AROUND THE WORLD. This is especially a hit for MILLIONS of children. It's because of this movie, that so many people started DEMANDING everyone do what they can to save the whales. Especially, KEIKO. So many people got to see what captivity was doing to this precious soul. KEIKO THE SICK: Keiko is now in FAILING health & the attention has now been drawn to him...showing the unacceptable living conditions for Keiko in Mexico City. Keiko is now SEVERLY underweight, has a weak immune system, is inflicted with MANY skin lesions, has ulcers & digestive problems & his muscles are getting weak. He's sluggish, out of shape & an can ONLY hold his breath for approx. 3 minutes. As if that isn't enough, his skull & ribcage can be seen. This makes it perfectly clear... Keiko IS dying. 1993... Keiko is now being introduced to many sounds. He is listening to orca calls & for the first time, he's showing interest in the female sounds. September 1993... Everything is being done to get Keiko released from his prison in Mexico City. Researchers are doing their work. Biologists are doing their work. Sea World is doing their work. Finally... Keiko is going to be RESCUED from his prison. October 1993... Biologist Balcomb travels to Iceland to begin researching Keiko's family pod. He also arranges for Keiko to be transported to a rehab site in the US. November 1993... There are photos of Keiko with a bloody lip. He has scratched it on the side of the pool. Balcomb has arranged for Keiko to receive fresh, frozen Atlantic herring from Iceland. Keiko does NOT get his fish. A wonderful couple read a story in the Wall Street Journal about Keiko. This couple, Mr. & Mrs. Craig McCaw want to help. Craig has just sold his CELLULAR phone business to ATT for $11.5 BILLION. Without this money, Keiko would NEVER have left his prison pool in Mexico City. The year 1994... this year is met with MANY rejections for the release of Keiko back into the waters. Money is offered to help Balcomb with the release...every offer is rejected. The DEMAND for Keiko's release is growing. Reino Aventura is getting letters by the millions, demanding they release Keiko. Sea World is making excuses for NOT taking Keiko. They are saying that his skin lesions are contagious... we already know that that's not true. The truth behind their comments... they are afraid of taking in a whale that is getting the publicity that Keiko is getting. So now, it looks as though Keiko will die in his prison in Mexico City. Money is still being raised... children from an elementary school in Florida raise $31,000. A "FREE WILLY FOUNDATION" is formed. Donations are being sought. Craig McCaw is still offering his money. February 1995... Keiko is donated to the "FREE WILLY FOUNDATION". The Foundation announces that Keiko will live at a new $7.3 million rehab facility with the HOPE that he will eventually be released to live in the North Atlantic. December 1995... Keiko's tank is built in 5 months. This tank has oscillating water jets & rubbing rocks. No more bloody lips. Again, people are saying that he can't be released due to the VIRUS that he has. And again, they are being told that he does NOT have a virus. January 1996... The people of Mexico City start going to Keiko's prison, saying their last good-byes. It's been estimated that more than 27,000 people went to see him. KEIKO, THE ALMOST FREE WHALE: As Keiko was being driven to the airport, more than 100,000 people lined the walkways, expressways & overpasses to wave "good-bye" to their Keiko. Keiko was placed into a UPS crate, packed in ice water with a sticker reading... THIS SIDE UP! Keiko is now placed on the flight. This flight will take approx. 20 hrs. 750 MILLION people watch Keiko's move on TV. Keiko is on his way to Oregon, where he will be placed in a 2 MILLION GALLON concrete pool & experience seawater for the first time in 14 YEARS. Keiko is way below his weight. He's 7,720 lbs & approx. 20' in length. January 1997... Keiko has gained more than 1,000 lbs since he was moved to his new pool. His skin lesions are almost gone. His ulcers are gone. His cardiovascular fitness & muscle tone have improved. His blood is healthier. He has more energy. This should be a GOOD thing. BUT, the people at the aquarium REFUSE to change the filters in the closed circulation system. The water that Keiko is living in, is now becoming murky & contaminated. Spring 1997... Two above water & six underwater cameras are installed in Keiko's pool. The people there discover that Keiko uses North Atlantic orca dialects. Again, this should be a good thing but it is kept a secret & they tell people that Keiko is echolocate. Biologist Balcomb records Keiko's calls. They match the North Atlantic calls. May 1997... the rehab staff start introducing fresh fish to Keiko in his pool but he refuses to eat them. Instead, he returns them to his trainer. They continue to introduce the fish & he finally starts to catch them & eat. During this time, Keiko becomes lesion FREE for the first time since 1982. Optimism now grows that he CAN make the next step to Iceland. June 1997... Keiko now tops the scales at 9,620 lbs. He's also grown 8 inches longer, to over 21'. July 1997... 2,000 live herring are introduce to Keiko. He eats come, ignores some & returns some to his trainer. October 1997... Keiko now recognizes more than 50 hand signals, including one.. arms reaching forward, index fingers pointing.. that means "do anything you want, as long as you didn't do it already." Skipping to April 1998... Keiko's new release pen is built & shipped to Iceland. June 1998... A vet examines Keiko & says that there's NO ground for opposing Keiko's return home. The Prime Minister of Iceland, sanctioned the US gov't for holding a resident of another country AGAINST HIS WILL. Keiko was to be returned to Iceland by Sept. 19... if not, civil action would be taken against the US & the US would be charged with abduction of Keiko. September 1998... Keiko is placed in his new pen. He starts communicating with a pilot whale that swims near his cove. Keiko is being very vocal. More than he was when he was in Oregon. His activity level is alot higher than when in Oregon. He's beginning to act like a REAL whale. Coming out of the water smoothly, going into a graceful arc & slipping beneath the surface. March 1999... Keiko has been in the waters of his native Iceland for a full year & it's now time to reintroduce him to the wild. There's an essential component of this program & that's moving his attention from ABOVE the surface to BELOW the surface of the water, which he has already started doing. By doing this, Keiko is NOT depending so much on the humans in his life & has developed a greater interest in his natural environment. Now we are skipping to the year 2001... Keiko is now interacting with other killer whales. He is chaperoned out of the bay & he visits with them for a short period of time & then he will return to the boat. There was one time when Keiko was moving in & out of three whale pods for 6-7 hours. There are times when Keiko would stray as fas as 35 miles from his caretakers. He would be the one to initiate contact with these wild whales. November 2001... Keiko must move. A salmon farm will be constructed on his bay. This farm produces LOTS of waste. November 2001... Keiko is led to a new location which is ice free, has plenty of fish, is remote & has orcas traveling through the area. During 2002, Keiko continues to leave the boat where his caretakers are to swim with pods of wild, killer whales. He continues to attempt to make friends with these wonderful creatures. KEIKO THE WATER ANGEL... the day is December 12, 2003... the day Keiko takes his last breath. Keiko never got the chance to rejoin his family. There are several speculations as to why this reunion failed. You see, Orca families are built on TRUST, LOYALTY, LOVE. An Orca must also SHOW to the family that they want to be there. They have to wait to be welcomed back into their pod. Plus, Keiko needed to LOOK for his family, something he didn't know how to do. Keiko is STILL a family name. The movies are still watched. The people are still out there that want ALL whales, dophins, sea lions, walruses, sharks... everything released back into the wild. They don't belong in a water tank in some tourist town. They BELONG in the wild. They BELONG with their family. They BELONG in the free. These beautiful sea creatures are NOT for our entertainment. They should NOT have people riding on their backs. They should NOT be jumping through hoops. They should NOT be hitting their heads on the side of their tanks. They should NOT have to rely on humans for their food. Just look at Keiko. He had injuries. He was kept in a small tank with NO room to swim. This is NOT the life for a killer whale. ABC released a statement once. It read... "releasing Keiko is about bleeding-heart animal lovers going too far". They said that Keiko didn't even know how to catch his own fish. LIE... he caught his fish, ate his fish ever since they were offered to him in 1997. Now granted, he did at times, return them to his trainers BUT that's because he was a SOCIALIZED whale & that's considered to be CIVILIZED behavior for an Orca. In my opinion, Keiko's release was something that should have taken place the SECOND he was caught in that fishing net. It should NOT have taken so many years, 3 movies, reports, bloody lips, scratched body, skin lesions & so much more to get him released back into the waters of Iceland. So, that's the story of one of the most beautiful sea creatures around. On youtube, there are many, many videos of this wonderful whale. Everyone should take the time to go watch some of them. Listen to the wonderful music & watch Keiko & realize that these wonderful creatures don't belong ANYWHERE other than their own waters. Because of Keiko, HUNDREDS of hours of whale calls are being analyzed. Photos are being taken. DNA profiles are being made. We are studying these whales... learning what is needed to know to keep them safe & out of fishing nets, tourist attractions, etc. So Keiko... you are free. You are swimming with the dolphins & whales in the large ocean at the bridge. You will forever be in the hearts of everyone that knows your story. What a beautiful whale you are. May you swim fast, arc beautifully & have fun with all of the fish.!! 10.14.2009...Happy Fall you precious water creature. I am sorry that I have not been to visit lately. I won't let that happen again. You were one of the most gracious beauties of the world. So graceful...so sleek. I can't think of ANY reason you should have been held captive in that small arena. You should ALWAYS be free to swim in the great blue waters. And now you are. You are LOVED TO THE MOON & BACK!!!...xoxo Please also visit AGBENYAGA, AKER, BUCKY, CHARRO, COLE, GODS Gentle Giants, KARLEY, Keisha(BooBoo), LADY WENDY, MANDY, MERCY, PFEIFLES' BABIES, REGINA, SHEPP, SNOW PUPPIES, Tiger Lily, Trail of Tears and URSA.

Photograph Album
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