Dawg
December 12th, 2003, 08:59 PM
I'm surprised and saddened to learn moments ago that Keiko, the star of the Free Willie movies, has died in Norway of pneumonia.
After 23 years of captivity, the citizens of Oregon (and the world), through private contributions and volunteerism, first moved Keiko from an Aquarium in Mexico (where the water was far, far too warm for him) to a huge tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. A year or so later, he was transported to Iceland to possibly become reaquainted with his "wild" brethren, and learn to live among them.
He was becoming acquainted with wild Orca pods (perhaps even relatives, since he was captured in the North Atlantic) and had been swimming freely in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway. He never lost the friendliness towards humans (and perhaps even the need for human companionship he developed over 23 years in our company).
An ingominious end to a noble experiment to try to undo some of the damage we humans have done.
I am
Dawg
:warrior:
After 23 years of captivity, the citizens of Oregon (and the world), through private contributions and volunteerism, first moved Keiko from an Aquarium in Mexico (where the water was far, far too warm for him) to a huge tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. A year or so later, he was transported to Iceland to possibly become reaquainted with his "wild" brethren, and learn to live among them.
He was becoming acquainted with wild Orca pods (perhaps even relatives, since he was captured in the North Atlantic) and had been swimming freely in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway. He never lost the friendliness towards humans (and perhaps even the need for human companionship he developed over 23 years in our company).
An ingominious end to a noble experiment to try to undo some of the damage we humans have done.
I am
Dawg
:warrior: