Keiko still heading toward Norway, monitoring reveals

the Register Guard ^ | 21 Aug 02 | AP

[Glutton]

Satellite tracking data indicates that Keiko the killer whale, in his 45th day of freedom as of Tuesday, continued to move away from his former home in Iceland and eastward toward the coast of Norway.

A statement issued by the Humane Society of the United States said the tracking system placed the former "Free Willy" movie star 200 miles northeast of the Faroe Islands in the north Atlantic Ocean, 190 miles from the closest part of Norway and 150 miles north of the Shetland Islands.

The Tuesday position was 45 miles from his position Monday. The 25-year-old orca, captured off the coast of Iceland as a 2-year-old, has spent most of his life in captivity. He was rehabilitated at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport after being rescued in poor health from a Mexico City amusement park in 1996.

The goal of his rescuers was to make him the first captive killer whale returned to the wild. Preparations toward that goal continued after he was flown from Oregon to a net pen in an Icelandic bay in 1998.

In early July, Keiko left his handlers and their boat on an "ocean walk" and has been on his own since. A storm forced the handlers and their boat to return to their base, but Keiko stayed at sea.

"While the possibility remains that Keiko could return to Iceland or that the (Humane Society) would intervene because of indications of distress, each day marks another milestone on Keiko's quest for freedom," the statement said.

[Glutton]

Well, Keiko is obviously done with being institutionalized and on welfare.

I wish this "movie star" of 'Free Willy well, and many little Keikos to boot. He was at the Oregon Coast for quite awhile being rehabilitated from his time as an attraction in an aquarium in Mexico.

With all the money they spent on him, I am glad it looks like thid story is developing a semblence of a happy ending.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

[Guillermo]

Headed to Norway?? Uh-oh. Aren't they big time whalers?

[Grut]

Strangely enough, satellite images show a Norwegian whaling ship exactly at Keiko's position, apparently moving on the same track and at the same speed....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Strangely enough, satellite images show a Norwegian whaling ship exactly at Keiko's position, apparently moving on the same track and at the same speed....

Would "Jaws" music be appropriate?

[coydog]

Orcas aren't generally hunted by whalers - too small, too smart and not nearly enough meat on their bones. Keiko's worries will not likely be due to them.

[egarvue]

Heheheh. But how do they know that it is Keiko, and not just his radio tracker that is in the belly of some other orca whale? :-) Everything I've ever read was that he was too tame and stupid to really live on his own, it almost became impossible to return him to the wild.

[TamiPie]

Every orca is unique, with regards to fin/flipper size and shape. Even body markings are unique to each whale.

[Glutton]

"Headed to Norway?? Uh-oh. Aren't they big time whalers?"

Maybe he hung around too many Earth First! and Green Peace types while in Oregon.

I hope he doesn't plan to go there to protest whaling. Japan that recently released a huge amount of whale meat taken in "test/research" whaling near Antartica to the general public in country would be a better place to do that in any event.

I visited this guy several times when he was here. He struck me more as a harmless slacker type who has trouble finding the motivation to move away from Mom and Dad's home.

I am willing to be a well shaped female orca's body is more likely the thing moving him in that direction. ;-)

[Glutton]

That is very true. At least Keiko doen't have hands. He won't be burdened by autograph requests if his well known markings and drooping dorsal fin are spotted by those familiar with his history as the lead in a movie.

[WHATNEXT?]

I didn't know he had finally left his base. Glad to hear it - wish him well.