Free Willy ( Keiko ) whale dies

[jjcollins]

Keiko, the killer whale that starred in the film Free Willy, has died in Norway at the age of 27, 18 months after he was returned to the wild. The six-ton whale apparently suffered a sudden bout of pneumonia in the fjord where he had been living.

Keiko was captured when two, but after the success of the film, he was freed from cramped conditions in Mexico City. After his release into the wild in Iceland, Keiko swam to Norway, where he became a popular attraction.

Killer whales live an average of 35 years in the wild. Keiko became ill very quickly, according to Dane Richards who looked after the mammal.

"He exhibited some signs of lethargy and lack of appetite," Mr Richards told the Associated Press.

"We checked his respiration rate and it was a little irregular ... he wasn't doing too well. Early in the evening, he passed away," said Mr Richards.

"They really do die quickly and there was nothing we could do," said Nick Braden, a spokesman of the Humane Society of the United States.




He's now really free



jj..........

 

[Big V]

That's so sad.

 

[olena]

That is very sad.....

 

[Serena]

 

[wdwnutze]

How sad.

 

[Pop Daddy]

he was such a good actor

 

[Blondie]

 

[ASFCurly]

 

[IloveDMB]

Oh that's sad

 

[MosMom]

Unfortunately, it was a big risk for them to free him after being in captivity for so long and they knew it. I think he was the victim of people with good intentions. I am all for rehabilitation when possible but I think some thought Keiko could prove their point (that whales of any age no matter how long they have been captive can be released) and he paid the price with his life. Very sad.