Wikipedia

Keiko (orca)

Keiko (earlier Siggi and Kago; c. 24 September 1976 – 12 December 2003) was a male orca captured in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland in 1979. He was best known for his portrayal of Willy in the 1993 film Free Willy. In 1996, Warner Bros. and the International Marine Mammal Project collaborated to return Keiko to the wild. After years of preparing Keiko for reintegration, Keiko was flown to Iceland in 1998 and in 2002, became the first captive orca to be fully released back into the ocean. On 12 December 2003, he died of pneumonia in a bay in Norway at the age of 27.

Keiko
Keiko at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in 1998
SpeciesOrca (Orcinus orca)
BreedIcelandic
SexMale
Bornc. 24 September 1976
Near Iceland
Died12 December 2003 (at the age of c. 27)
Arasvikfjord, Norway
Notable roleWilly in Free Willy
Weight12,300 lb (5,600 kg)[1]
www.keiko.com

Background information edit

Easily recognizable by their uniquely distinguishing black and white coloring, Orca are also known as the largest member of the dolphin family. Orca, also referred to as killer whales, are very intelligent and social animals. They hunt in lifelong pods which also divide the responsibility of raising young. after humans, orca are the most widely distributed mammals in the world, occupying every ocean on the planet. Varying in size by location, adult males are larger than females, reaching 32 feet (10 meters) long, with females reaching about 28 feet (8.5 meters). There are three recognized types of orca: resident, offshore, and transient.

Residents reside in larger pods close to shore with about 10-20 individuals, feeding mainly on fish. Although Offshore orca are similar to residents, their appearances differ significantly. They are generally smaller, and have nicked, rounded fins. Transient orca spend their entire lives out at sea and travel in smaller pods of anywhere from three to seven members. They prey mainly on seals, sea lions, and other dolphins. Although their outward appearances are similar, these three types of orca have genetic differences that prevent interbreeding and general interaction.

Orca do not have a specific breeding season but tend to breed more in summer. Female orca have a gestation period of about 15-18 months and birth a single calf, which they will then nurse for up to a year. Each pod has intricate and complex social hierarchies, which include a matriarch. It is not uncommon for many families to live together and for each family to have multiple generations.

Orca have been coined the "wolves of the sea" in reference to their hunting tactics. Primarily hunting in packs, they are known to use their numbers to get their prey in the most optimal position to make the kill. With eyes adapted to see underwater as well as above water, orca rely heavily on their sense of hearing for hunting. Hearing enables them to determine the shape, size, direction, and distance of objects and other animals. Their diet consists of other marine animals such as seals, sea lions, and whales. Specific populations that are found off the coast of isolated islands have adapted specialized diets based on what is available. An adult orca consumes on average 500 pounds of food a day, so whatever they eat needs to be either large or in abundance.

Early life edit

Keiko was captured near Reyðarfjörður, Iceland in 1979 at the approximate age of two and sold to the Icelandic Aquarium in Hafnarfjörður. At the time, he was named Siggi, with the name Kago given at a later date.[2][3]

In 1982, he was transferred to Marineland in Ontario, Canada. At this new facility, he first started performing for the public and developed skin lesions indicative of poor health and was also bullied by older orca. Keiko was then sold to Reino Aventura, an amusement park in Mexico City, Mexico, in 1985. Keiko lived in a warm, chlorinated tank with artificial salt water. These conditions were more suited to dolphins, and due to this, his health continued to decline. Around this time Keiko was also performing frequently for the public.

At Reino Aventura, he was given the name "Keiko", a feminine Japanese name that means "lucky one". At the time, he was only 10 feet (3.0 m) long.

Orca in Captivity edit

Very often, orca in captivity die from pneumonia or other infections that they wouldn't have contracted if their immune systems weren't compromised and weakened. Only a few wild caught orca have lived past 30, and there is no record of any captive born orca living longer either. Since 1977, over 70 orcas have been born around the world into captivity. Approximately 37 of them are now dead.

Orca are highly intelligent, highly social animals that seek to live, feed, and migrate over vast distances in the ocean, travelling over 40 miles a day on average. As a means of exercise, and for foraging food they dive 100 to 500 every day, multiple times a day.

"Not one marine animal is adapted to thrive in the world we've made for them in a concrete box" says Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington D.C.

Captivity can compromise orca health, which is most prominent in their most essential element-- their teeth. A 2017 study in the Journal Archives of Oral Biology found that nearly 25% of all orca in captivity in the U.S. have tooth damage, while 70% have suffered at least some form of dental damage.

In the wild it's not uncommon for an orca population to display signs of wear and tear on their teeth, however this happens naturally and over a long period of time. The damage occurring in captivity is in large part due to stress-induced behavior. Orca will continuously grind their teeth along their tank walls, exposing nerves. These open cavities remain readily susceptible to infection regardless of the tank upkeep. Self-mutilation is typical for animals that are kept captive in too-small enclosures with not enough enrichment.

Wild orca live in close, dynamic groups that share a very unique culture passed through generations. Artificially replicating this by housing orca in the same tank limits their ability to escape conflict, among other social practices.

Free Willy edit

Keiko became the star of the film Free Willy in 1993. The publicity from his role led to an effort by Warner Bros in order to find him a better home. The pool for the now 21-foot-long (6.4 m) orca was only 22 feet (6.7 m) deep, 65 feet (20 m) wide and 114 feet (35 m) long. He was housed with bottlenose dolphins, but no others of his own species.[4][5] Keiko was underweight for his size, and the water temperature was often too warm, which contributed to various skin problems.[6] Due to a papillomavirus infection, Keiko experienced skin outbreaks, first observed while he was housed in Ontario, Canada, prior to his transfer to Mexico City,[7] which complicated both his candidacy for relocation[6] and for eventual release into the wild.[8]

Free Willy-Keiko Foundation edit

Outcry for Keiko's liberation arose from the film's credits containing a phone number for whale preservation that received hundreds of thousands of call-ins.[8] Warner Brothers and Craig McCaw approached the International Marine Mammal Project for help, which in February 1995 established the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation.[9] With donations from the foundation and millions of school children, the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon was given over $7 million to construct facilities to return him to health with the hope of eventually returning him to the wild. Reino Aventura donated Keiko to the Foundation.[10] Before he left the amusement park in Mexico City, Keiko performed for the public for the last time, and was seen off by thousands of children, with more onlookers watching his overnight journey to the Mexico City International Airport.[8][11] At the time he weighed about 7,700 pounds (3493 kg).[7][8][1] A C-130 cargo plane donated by United Parcel Service (UPS) hauled Keiko to Newport, Oregon on 8 January 1996.[8]

On arrival in Oregon Coast Aquarium, Keiko was housed in a new (2,000,000 US gallons (7,600,000 L)) concrete enclosure containing seawater. His weight had increased significantly by June 1997, to 9,620 pounds (4364 kg).[10][1]

Re-introduction to the wild edit

The plan to return him to the wild was a topic of much controversy. Some felt his years of captivity made such a return impossible. Researchers in a scientific study later said attempts to return him to the wild were unsuccessful, but that monitoring him with radio and satellite tags was part of "a contingency plan for return to human care," which secured "the long-term well-being of the animal."[12] Others considered his release misguided.[13][12](p 703) The Norwegian pro-whaling politician Steinar Bastesen made international news for his statement that Keiko should instead be killed and the meat sent to Africa as foreign aid.[14]

 
Loading Keiko onto a C-17 transport on 9 September 1998, in Newport, Oregon for transport to the Westman Islands in Iceland

Nevertheless, the process of preparing Keiko for the wild began on 9 September 1998, when he was flown to Klettsvík, a bay on the island of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. UPS again participated in transport, this time by providing ground transportation to the nearby Newport Municipal Airport. Keiko was transported in a specialized 30-foot-long (9.1 m) container filled with enough saltwater to cover him and cooled with ice cubes. He was then transported by air in a C-17 Globemaster airplane loaned by the U.S. Air Force.[7] Upon landing at Vestmannaeyjar Airport, the C-17 Globemaster aircraft suffered a landing gear failure causing over $1 million in damage, though Keiko was unharmed.[15][16]

His day-to-day care became the responsibility of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation with management assistance from the Ocean Futures Society. He was initially housed in a pen in the Klettsvik Bay where he underwent training designed to prepare him for his eventual release, including supervised swims in the open ocean.

Ocean Futures left the Keiko project in late 2001. The Free Willy-Keiko Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States re-established management of the project at that time until Keiko's death in 2003.[17] Keiko was fully free by the summer of 2002 and departed Icelandic waters in early August following some orcas but not integrated with the pod. His journey was tracked via the signal from a VHF tag attached to the dorsal fin.[12] About a month later, he arrived in Norway's Skålvik Fjord, apparently seeking contact with human beings and allowing children to ride on his back.[18] His caretakers relocated to Norway and continued to conduct boat-follows with Keiko for the next 15 months.[12] On the basis of girth measurements and blood tests, it was assumed that Keiko had fed during his 900-mile (1500 km) journey from Iceland to Norway.[12] Keiko occasionally approached groups of wild orcas, but remained on the periphery, at distances of 100–300 meters (109 to 328 yards), with his head pointing toward the closest orca.[12](p 696)

Death edit

Keiko resided in Taknes Bay, which was a clear inlet of coastal water where he was free to roam. There he was fed and looked after by keepers. Keiko had a tracking device attached to his dorsal fin that allowed his four handlers to pinpoint his location as long as he stayed within range.

Although Keiko was old for an orca in captivity, male orca in the wild live up to around 35 years. Executive director of the Free Willy-Keiko foundation stated that Keiko was relatively healthy, up until a quick onset of symptoms which consisted of lethargy and loss of appetite the day before. Dale Richards, one of his handlers, said Keiko died quickly after an irregular respiration rate was measured at age 27 on 12 December 2003. Pneumonia was determined as his cause of death.

A spokesman of the Humane Society of the United States, Nick Braden said that veterinarians administered antibiotics to Keiko after he started showing symptoms that Thursday, unfortunately this was not enough.

Evaluation of the re-introduction process edit

Most sources conclude that the project to free Keiko was a failure because the orca failed to adapt to life in the wild.[19] In Norway, Keiko had little contact with other orcas and was not fishing; for months before his death, the whale was being fed daily.[20][21][13]

A report in The Guardian describes the freed orca's life in Taknes Bay as follows:

"... until his death Keiko was, rather than frolicking freely in his fjord, being taken for 'walks' by caretakers in a small boat at least three times a week. ... It took more than 60 failed attempts to reunite Keiko with free orcas before he followed a group where, spotting a fishing vessel off the Norwegian coast, he followed it into the fjords that would prove his final resting place."[22]

According to an article in New Scientist, "He was seen diving among the wild orcas only once, on 30 July 2002. And after physical contact at the surface, Keiko swam away, seeking out human company on the tracking boat".[13] Simon, Hanson, Murrey, et al. (2009)[12] confirm that he was seen on the periphery of some wild groups but was never seen to be socially integrated with such whales. In summary,

"He never integrated into a wild pod ... and could not break his need for human contact."[23]

According to Simon et al. (2009)[12] Keiko's return to humans for food and for company confirms the failure of the project.

Reasons cited for Keiko's failure to adapt include his early age at capture, the long history of captivity, prolonged lack of contact with conspecifics and strong bonds with humans.[12]

In spite of those comments, David Phillips, executive director of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation, praised the release project: "We took the hardest candidate and took him from near death in Mexico to swimming with wild whales in Norway".[22] "Keiko had five years with the sights and sounds of natural seawater. I think it was a great success in terms of Keiko, his well-being, and the whole world that wanted to do the right thing."[24] Others also claim that the release was a success, and The Huffington Post called it a "phenomenal success ... giving him years of health and freedom".[25][26]

The total cost of freeing Keiko was about US$20 million. The lead author of the study published by Marine Mammal Science said:

"You can't just let these animals out into the wild. You have to take the responsibility, and that might cost a lot of money. The fortune spent on Keiko might have been better invested in conservation programs to protect whales and their habitat ... But that's not as appealing as the adventures of a single whale".[27]

An alternative to freeing orcas after long-term captivity, is the use of a "sanctuary" or "oceanic enclosure" (sea pen), according to Lori Marino of the Whale Sanctuary Project.[28][29] "They can't be released, but their quality of life can be improved by orders of magnitude", Marino said in a 2016 interview where she agreed that the cost would be high ($15 to $20 million). "It's a solemn responsibility, and it's the best we can do for animals that are in captivity."[24]

Filmography edit

In 2010 the film Keiko: The Untold Story was released. In 2013 a New York Times video, The Whale Who Would Not Be Freed, included interviews about Keiko's return to the ocean.[30]

  • Quinceañera (1987; TV series)
  • Keiko en peligro (1990)
  • Free Willy (1993)
  • Azul (1996; TV series)
  • Keiko: The Untold Story (2010)
  • "The Whale Who Would Not Be Freed". The New York Times. 16 September 2013.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Frequently asked questions about Keiko". International Marine Mammal Project. Earth Island Institute. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  2. ^ Kirby, David (17 July 2012). Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the dark side of killer whales in captivity. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-00831-2 – via Internet Archive. Kago.
  3. ^ Neiwert, David (16 June 2015). Of Orcas and Men: What killer whales can teach us. The Overlook Press. ISBN 978-1-4683-1229-4 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Townsend, Mark (7 September 2002). "Keiko's love of children puts his life in danger". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Kuo, Vivian (26 October 2013). "Orca trainer saw best of Keiko, worst of Tilikum". CNN.
  6. ^ a b Schrader, Esther (23 August 1993). "Ill 'Willy' presents a whale of a problem". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Booth, William (10 September 1998). "Free Willy: The true sequel". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e Preston, Julia (8 January 1996). "Willy is freed! Well, moved, anyway". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Keiko whale rescue". International Marine Mammal Project. Earth Island Institute. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b Kurth, Linda Moore (18 August 2017). Keiko's Story: A killer whale goes home. Millbrook Press. ISBN 978-0-7613-1500-1 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Colmenero, Karla Munguía (29 September 2022). "Keiko, the only captive orca to ever return home". Karla Mungia. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simon, M.; Hanson, M.B.; Murrey, L.; Tougaard, J.; Ugarte, F. (July 2009). "An attempt to release Keiko the killer whale". Marine Mammal Science. 25 (3): 693–705. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00287.x. "Simon 2009" (PDF). Natural History. Orca Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Brahic, Catherine (28 April 2009). "Why freeing Willy was the wrong thing to do". New Scientist. Keiko was indeed a poor candidate for release, due to the early age of his capture, long history of captivity, prolonged lack of contact with conspecifics, and strong bonds with humans.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Michael (15 September 1998). "'Turn Keiko into meatballs'". The Independent.
  15. ^ "C-17A S/N 96-0006". McChord Air Museum. McChord Air Force Base.
  16. ^ "C-17 accident during whale lift due to design flaw". Archived from the original on 29 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Free Willy-Keiko Foundation".
  18. ^ "Keiko not so 'wild' in Norway". KOMO-TV. 31 August 2006 [2 September 2002]. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Death of Keiko". National Geographic Society. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  20. ^ "Free Willy whale dies". CBS News.
  21. ^ Lusher, Adam (14 December 2003). "Whale star of Free Willy dies after return to wild". The Telegraph.
  22. ^ a b Townsend, Mark (13 December 2003). "Free at last? New row as Keiko dies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  23. ^ "Killer whales: What to do with captive orcas?". Earth News. BBC News (news.bbc.co.uk). 25 February 2010.
  24. ^ a b "Watch what happens when you free a killer whale". takepart.com. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  25. ^ Whiting, Candace Calloway (17 September 2013). "Keiko (Free Willy): 20 Years Later, History Proves His Release to Have Been the Right Decision". HuffPost.
  26. ^ Garrett, Howard (25 March 2016). "Hope for Lolita in Keiko's successful return to the wild". Opinion. Daily Herald (HeraldNet.com). Everett, WA.
  27. ^ "The $20M lessons of "freeing" Keiko the whale". Travel & Outdoors. Seattle Times. 2009. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017 – via o.seattletimes.nwsource.com.
  28. ^ "Renowned marine conservationist Dr. Carl Safina joins board of Whale Sanctuary Project". The Whale Sanctuary Project (whalesanctuaryproject.org). Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
  29. ^ "The Whale Sanctuary Project: Saying no thanks to tanks". Psychology Today (blog). July 2017.
  30. ^ Winerip, Michael (16 September 2013). The Whale Who Would Not Be Freed (video). Retro report. The New York Times. Event occurs at 11:43. Retrieved 17 September 2013.

External links edit

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