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Keiko (earlier Siggi and Kago; c. 24 September 1976 – 12 December 2003) was a male orca captured in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland in 1979. He was best known for his portrayal of Willy in the 1993 film Free Willy. In 1996, Warner Bros. and the International Marine Mammal Project collaborated to return Keiko to the wild.
- Icelandic
- 12,300 lb (5,600 kg)
- Male
- Orca (Orcinus orca)
Keiko, the orca from the movie Free Willy, was born in the Atlantic Ocean and captured in Iceland. He was kept in a small tank in Mexico City for 15 years, where he performed for children and became famous. He was released in 1993 and now lives in a natural setting in Canada. Learn how he became a symbol of animal welfare and conservation.
Feb 10, 2024 · It was the closing scene of Free Willy, a film that captured the hearts of a generation, telling the story of an orphaned boy racing against time to free a killer whale from captivity before...
Jul 16, 1993 · A boy befriends a captive orca whale and tries to free him from a marine park. The movie features Michael Jackson's song Will You Be There and the true story of Keiko, the star orca who was released into the wild.
- (81K)
- Adventure, Drama, Family
- Simon Wincer
- 1993-07-16
Watch how Keiko, the orca star of the hit film Free Willy, became the first captive orca to be successfully returned to his ocean. From capture to stardom to rehabilitation, from seapen to daily outings with caretakers, experience how Keiko gained over 3000 lbs, mixed it up with wild orcas, and even exhibited physical signs of attempts to mate ...
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Feb 21, 2023 · Keiko’s Legacy, 30 Years after. Free Willy. After striking box office gold in the 1993 Oregon-shot film, the iconic orca made a huge splash in the world of marine mammal conservation efforts. By Sam Pape February 21, 2023 Published in the Spring 2023 issue of Portland Monthly.
The first in-depth cinematic look at the life and legend of the “Free Willy” star, “Keiko The Untold Story” goes behind the scenes of the controversial release in 1998 of the first and only orca released into the wild after being held for years in captivity.
