Keiko the Whale Moves One Step Closer to Home

Iceland approved plans Tuesday to have “Free Willy” star Keiko moved from the Oregon Coast Aquarium to a large pen in an Icelandic bay, in preparation for the killer whale’s release into his native waters.

Iceland Prime Minister David Oddsson cleared the way for the move to take place as early as September. The orc was captured in that country at age 2.

It’s the latest installment in a saga that began two years ago, when schoolchildren inspired by the movie raised money to bring the ailing whale from a cramped Mexico City amusement park to a spacious tank at the Oregon aquarium, all with the aim of someday setting him free.

“This isn’t about one whale,” said Bob Ratliffe, executive director of the Free Willy Keiko Foundation. “It’s about keeping a promise we made to children around the world. We are going to show them dreams can come true.”

But at least one whale expert disagreed with the plan, pointing out that Keiko has spent most of his 20 years in captivity. Scientists believe Keiko can live 15 to 20 years more.

“We’ve been misleading these schoolchildren all these years; maybe now’s the time to start telling them the truth: that they should find a companion for him and keep him where he’s at,” said Brad Andrews, who oversees 20 killer whales for Sea World theme parks.

Andrews said it’s a mistake to put Keiko back in open waters, even in a pen.

“He’s going to be in an ocean pen where the weather conditions are ferocious,” he said. “It’s cold, it’s miserable, it’s dark. There’s no contact with other whales. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”