MEXICO: ORCA KEIKO, MADE FAMOUS BY THE FILM 'FREE WILLIE', PERFORMS HIS LAST SHOWS IN MEXICO BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE U.S.

Record ID: 301150

  • Title: MEXICO: ORCA KEIKO, MADE FAMOUS BY THE FILM 'FREE WILLIE', PERFORMS HIS LAST SHOWS IN MEXICO BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE U.S.
  • Date: 8th January 1995
  • Summary: TRAINER CARLA CORRAL SAYING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS THAT KEIKO ARRIVE WELL (IN OREGON) AND THAT HE ADAPTS WELL TO THE TANK, THE FOOD, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WILL BE NEW. THE CLIMATE IS DIFFERENT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT HE ADAPT AND BE TRANQUIL, THEN HE WILL START TO LOOK FOR THE FEMALE WHALE. NOTHING IS CERTAIN, HOWEVER, UNTIL KEIKO HAS ADAPTED (SPANISH)
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 1995 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAHOCO8T5QHH7GORYTPQZ4QSQL
  • Story Text: Keiko, the killer whale made famous by the film "Free Willie," performed his last shows at the Reino Aventura theme park in Mexico City recently, as he prepared to leave his home of ten years.

    Keiko was due to leave his small tank at the park on January 7 for one four times bigger at a seaquariaim in Portland, Oregon in the United States. Keiko is six metres long and weighs 3.5 tonnes and has long outgrown the theme park's tank.

    The circumstances of Keiko's captivity came to light following publicity for the movie "Free Willy," and caused much debate in and out of Mexico as fans and theme park officials fought a battle of words with envirionmentalists over keeping Keiko where he was.

    Over 25,000 people have visited the Reino Aventura theme park since Keiko began performing there and the park's revenue is likely to decrease once he leaves.

    A larger tank is not the only thing awaiting Keiko in Oregon, however. He will also have a mate and seaquarium officials hope that the improved conditions will facilitate breeding between the two whales.

    Carla Corral, his trainer in Mexico, says the most important things is that Keiko adapts to the new environment in Oregon.

    "Everything will be new, the climate is different. The most important things is that he adapts and is calm, then he will start to look for the female whale. Nothing is certain, however, until Keiko has adapted," she added.
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