Keiko

Provided by Laurie Neron

Some General Info

Name: Keiko

Pronounced: Kay-Koh

Means: Lucky one, in Japanese

Stage Name/Nickname: Kego

Sex: Male

Age: 27 (?)

Birth Date: 1977's

Death Date: 12th December 2003

Death Size: 25 feet and 13000 pounds

Capture Date: November 1979

Capture Size: 12 feet

Parents: Unknown

Siblings: Unknown

Half-Siblings: Unknown

Birth Place: Iceland

Birth: Tail First
Father of: -

Keiko's History

In 1979, Keiko was captured in Iceland when he was 2. He was taken to Marineland Ontario in Canada, in 1982 until 1985. He then went to Reino Aventura, in Mexico City, in 1985 until 1996. During his stay at Reino Aventura he starred in the movie Free Willy. After the first film was made, Keiko was moved to Oregon Coast Aquarium, in 1996. He then became unhealthy and it was decided that Keiko should be freed. In September 1998, Keiko was taken back to Iceland where he had been gone for 20 years. Keiko was held in a pen in Iceland. He was then freed in Iceland and then swam to Norway, but he wouldn't socialize with the orcas. He kept coming back to the people who were trying to free him. The people kept trying and trying to free him but he was too used to humans, and it didn't kelp when he became a major tourist attraction, and people came to see him. Eventually after lots of hard work, Keiko then died at the age of 27 on 12th December 2003.

How to Identify Keiko