Moral of the story: The best way to rehabilitate a killer whale is to never keep them captive in the first place.

@puri_pon

11 ай бұрын

Exactly

@dukedematteo1995

11 ай бұрын

Or....who gives a shit if he likes humans. Who says that's how he should live?

@user-xf1fc4xh9j

10 ай бұрын

Facts

@Resilientlyblessed

10 ай бұрын

💯💯💯

@nolancoulombe1950

10 ай бұрын

Factual

Poor Keiko... he didn't know how to socialize with them and was lonely...that breaks my heart. That's why he kept seeking out humans, he was alone and that hurts my heart. These people tried to do the right thing, it was just too late.

@knightbane3752

Жыл бұрын

unpopular opinion, but this, in a way, is where alot of the free the whales/dolphins projects, while noble, are wrong. They've not been long term successful. Instead they should petition to make the ones in captivity the last ones there

@eastbow6053

Жыл бұрын

@@knightbane3752 agree they keep breeding this captive whales

@GayToBeHere

Жыл бұрын

@@knightbane3752 i think they can both co-exist but i agree 100% the energy should mostly be spent making sure they stop breeding and catching whales

@jusjetz

Жыл бұрын

Their work has been in vain.

@basillah7650

Жыл бұрын

if they had released him with other captive whales that were put together it would have made a pod for him

I love that Keiko remembered some tricks, and played with kids. Makes me think he at least enjoyed part of his job, despite the decline in health at the time. He liked making kids laugh, and interacting with them.

@wyattblaine7066

5 ай бұрын

@@blackhorse9729 I wonder if they ever took samples? Could potentially still sire some pups

@erincaf225

5 ай бұрын

@@blackhorse9729 breeding of killer whales is illegal now thank god

@Dueiso

4 ай бұрын

I think the same, Keiko FREELY chose to be a wild-gentle orca.

@osmosisjones4912

4 ай бұрын

Freedom would simply giving him a choice

@GingerWolf87

3 ай бұрын

ROFL. No he did not. He was ONLY doing this because he learned humans = food and being unable to hunt properly by himself he HAD TO interact with humans - his capturers, torturers, abusers, the worse and most demeaning criminals of all centuries - to survive.

He got a taste of freedom.. man this made me cry. Just like the movie when I was a kid

@abiekanzy7619

3 ай бұрын

Freedom is bad for keiko, he did not know how to survive,he was bullied by other orcas. Freedom was not the answer. Leaving him in conservatory is the best option.

@nancywilliams8076

2 ай бұрын

All in all at least he didn’t kill anyone due to being starved by his handlers like the one in the documentary Blackfish. Those people never took responsibility for what they did.

@kris_jenner_is_a_cryptid_

22 күн бұрын

This whale is why all millenials love orcas! I carried around a killer whale doll in elementary school lol

@CATSWITHKYLA

18 күн бұрын

@@abiekanzy7619 You obviously haven't done enough looking into his move. He learned how to survive and was on his own while he swam to Norway for over 60 days. He was free in the ocean for 5 years.

@swordchild0013

17 күн бұрын

@@abiekanzy7619 Absolutely not ! Keeping him in his cage was not the best at all. Disgusting that you would think so.

This story is the exact reason these whales should never be taken in the first place. Orcas form a very strong bond with their family units. You can't just introduce them to other pods and expect it to work out. It was so sad seeing him all alone.

@theothertonydutch

Жыл бұрын

This goes for pretty much most animals that we keep in captivity. I also think there are way too many types of pets that really should not be pets. Dogs and cats are one of the few exceptions I think.

@slashbat2375

Жыл бұрын

​@@theothertonydutch dogs and cats are only exceptions because they've been domesticated, they don't do well in the wild since they aren't wild animals (plus I'm pretty sure even if they could survive somewhere in the wild they'd just destroy whatever ecosystem they're put in, I think cats have hunted like 60 different animals into extinction)

@jessecovington6639

Жыл бұрын

Maybe Zoos altogether are wrong

@eyewetodddid

Жыл бұрын

@@jessecovington6639 yeah probably

@lunawolfheart336

Жыл бұрын

​@@theothertonydutch I'd agree I have two birds but they shouldn't be in a cage when I'm at work or busy with other things they should be free in the wild. But since they were captive breed releasing them would kill them. I guess breeding them is better then what they used to do and take them from the wild but it's still morally questionable as raising a bird is a lot of work and literally a life time contentment and because life is so chaotic people end up having to re-home birds alot and it's really sad as those birds can create such strong bonds with people

This is exactly what happened to Luna when they tried to introduce him back into the wild in Vancouver. He just wouldn't leave the bay. They kept trying to take him far into the ocean and even found other pods that welcomed him in but he was just too used to being around humans that he kept coming back. He'd swim up to boats to visit with the people, swim up to docks and visit. Unfortunately, one of the huge tugboats that he visited often, Luna got sucked under from the engines and he was killed. It was extremely heartbreaking for everyone. And even though I don't support any animals in captivity, unfortunately, it's almost always bad to try and reintroduce them back into the wild after many years in captivity. They should all be reintroduced in the ocean but in a rehabilitation area where they learn how to live in the ocean but in a supervised, loving, area where they are safe. And from now on they should only be admired from afar in their own homes and environment 💖

@leahsyl81

Жыл бұрын

@@kylieboettcher7438 yes, you're absolutely right! Thanks

@leahdamron9856

Жыл бұрын

I actually didn’t hear about poor Luna before but I was just thinking the same thing that could happen to animals like this that’s been in captivity almost their entire lives before this video even got going!

@leahsyl81

Жыл бұрын

@@leahdamron9856 there's actually a couple movies and documentaries about Luna. I can't remember the names of them at the moment but just search in KZread and you'll find them. I believe Disney+ or Prime have the movie too.

@LaTripper

Жыл бұрын

Springer made it back! Springer is a total success story

@lunity1111

Жыл бұрын

@@kylieboettcher7438o be fair at least everyone loved Luna and that whale probably got a lot of stimulation love and enjoyment during his time alive. I know it’s sad when any animal dies but I think they Luna got a lot of love by locals far better than these ones in captivity.

I cried so much. Couldn't be more thankful for having him released and taken care by his caretakers. Everyone did their best for Keiko.

@Donnirononon

4 ай бұрын

They left him alone...

@jseevers81

3 ай бұрын

Maybe you should do some research, other orcas won’t except him.

@younglove3362

3 ай бұрын

Don't try to reason with animal lovers. They're delusional and amoral and make situations worse than they already are.

@tessdurberville711

3 ай бұрын

​@@younglove3362 Put "animal lovers" in quotes to denote sarcasm.

@Alisha_79

3 ай бұрын

I cried too. Agreed they did the best they could for Keiko!

I was 12y when Keiko died. My grandmother used to drive us from Seattle to the Coast every weekend so I could go hang out with him since I was old enough to talk. 4yo me always brought my piggy bank to help my giant friend find his way home. I remember our last trip like it was yesterday, crying when his tank was finally empty bc I couldn't see him anymore but hoping he'd be happy/safe. The news of his passing broke my heart. He's the only reason I still have a VHS player and the 1st Free Willy. I know it's available digitally but it's the same one from 25+ years ago so it's family just as he was. I still have majority of all my pictures I took with him while he was in Oregon. Thank you for sharing some much needed information and beautiful visualization of Keiko's story 🥺❤

@adamgoncalves1591

4 ай бұрын

Aw what a beautiful story. I wasn't even a year old when he died but saw the movie years later. I was born in 2003 but Free Willy was a movie I loved growing up. May Keiko rest in peace knowing he got to see what freedom was like.

@fathimazenasus4492

Ай бұрын

*Can u share those pics as a vdo in ur channel pls*

@mellissa61390

Ай бұрын

Oh my goodness would you share those photos? That’s amazing. I’m glad he had someone to love and visit him often. I’m sure he thought of you as part of his pod❤️

@BonnieBlair-zm4uu

12 күн бұрын

I drove from Seattle ⛱️ to Newport, Oregon, that final Labor Day weekend, to say goodbye 😢 🙏 to Keiko too. Keiko really enjoyed watching all the aquarium guests through the windows in his "whale pen." Meeting Keiko remains one of the best things I did in my lifetime;🐋🐳 I love God's creatures so much and truly believe Keiko is beyond the Rainbow Bridge, with all other departed creatures and nature.❤🛐 🌈🌉🐳🐋🏝️🌺🐈🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🏞️🌷🌹🌲🌻🌴🕊️😇😇

He might have been "free" but did Keiko truly *feel* free? It's tragic that he was separated from his family as a baby, but he had been raised by people, socialized with people, *He* even sought out people after he was freed. The bay in Iceland that they had setup as a home for him might have been possibly the best place for him to have stayed. He could still have gone out swimming in the open ocean of his own accord, but he'd always have a place he could return to, and people that could help make his heart feel at least a little less lonely.

@daelynnmoore8232

Жыл бұрын

I was thinking this exact same thing!

@oliverallen3713

Жыл бұрын

He chose to swim off,its not like he was shooed away.

@lunawolfheart336

Жыл бұрын

Agreed they should if had that still available to him

@MangaGamified

Жыл бұрын

The irony of intelligence is that it's also the exact same thing that makes other pods notice the difference and be wary; lesser most people are kind, then it should be allowed to be with humans. The conservation in Iceland was the best balance of free but not being alone.

@elainemelanie9230

Жыл бұрын

Animals don't know what the word "free" even means. He was just humanized to make people release him.

Imagine stealing a toddler in California, keeping it for 20 years in a cage, then "rehabilitating" and releasing near a village of a tribe in Amazonia to "be free" - and then being surprised that he's not doing well. Knowing how complex life and culture of whales is, that's why they basically did to Keiko.

@nuclearcatbaby1131

Жыл бұрын

That’s what happened to me. Well I was stolen at a considerably older age. But my foster parent threw me out when I was 20 and it’s a miracle I survived long enough to find my dad and go live with him.

@joriankell1983

Жыл бұрын

And that's funny

@tanepukenga1421

Жыл бұрын

Well they DID find his Clan and release him back into that area, so I'd say it's more like picking the toddler up in LA and dropping them off in San Fran

@lunawolfheart336

Жыл бұрын

Yup it's honestly really sad. But we have to remember they didn't know back then what we do now but it doesn't make it right

@aaaduccs6667

Жыл бұрын

Exactly

He's still inspiring and teaching kids how amazing marine life is... That's his legacy forever... He'll always show the new generations why these animals are so important to the world and conservation as a whole

@janmolenaar9781

7 ай бұрын

This. It's often not the specific case, however sweet and sour it may be, but the effect it has on culture. It changed peoples mind.

Their intentions were SO pure. Unfortunately it didn't work out for poor Keiko and that is so damn sad. 😭 my heart is broken over this 💔 I hope he knew how much everyone loved him. Man I didn't plan on crying this late at night. 😢

This video fails to explain that Keiko was never forced to leave his pen. He chose not to return. He’d spent the previous summer interacting with wild orcas for several hours almost every day. He was completely capable of feeding himself & didn’t lose any weight during this swim to Norway. He was simply exhausted because he wasn’t used to swimming 60 miles per day. This could have weakened his immune system & caused his illness. His trainers knew he was sick and were providing medical attention. He didn’t die alone.

@landkonnudur

8 ай бұрын

but...but...my narrative...

@LibertyDino

8 ай бұрын

True

@enzoarayamorales7220

7 ай бұрын

This kind of also proves the point of the these whales are unfit to be kept inside since he didn’t have the capacity to swim for that long, it’s like putting a fat man in a forest all alone

@alohafromthe3033

7 ай бұрын

@@enzoarayamorales7220 Absolutely agreed. Thankfully, most of us are now aware how cruel captivity is, especially for orcas & other porpoises. That’s Keiko’s ultimate legacy.

@tikimillie

7 ай бұрын

Well thats scuffed

What makes me furious from this is that here we are, nearly 30 YEARS since the film came out and created all that passion to free Keiko, and dolphins and whales are still being held captive for entertainment. Hundreds are still captured every year for the trade. More than 3000 worldwide are kept captive including 60 orcas. What the hell is wrong with our species?

@dustman96

11 ай бұрын

@@mr.turbo_boost3383 That's the unfortunate answer.

@FrEDo507

11 ай бұрын

Money is the root of all evil.

@gearshiv

10 ай бұрын

You say that like we don't do worse to human beings

@dustman96

10 ай бұрын

@@gearshiv We shouldn't do it to any sentient species

@gearshiv

10 ай бұрын

@@dustman96 first thing I think we should all take turns with your mom

This project offered us valuable insight and a clearer understanding of the consequences of keeping a whale in captivity, what can be undone and what can't. It breaks my heart that he was starved of the socialisation and sense of family he needed but I'm glad he was free and healthy for a while.

RIP Keiko…you’ll always be a part of my childhood and immortalized through Free Willy ❤

I don't see this as different as someone dying lonely, lost and alone in the streets. This is a heart braking story.

@Lethal_Spoon

Жыл бұрын

the comparisons that can be drawn are horrifying

@paulmontoya9468

Жыл бұрын

People in the streets choose their path. Telling God to go F himself. Not showing any respect for life.

@Lily_of_the_Forest

Жыл бұрын

That’s why we must be kind to all living, feeling beings - people and animals.

@agnusdeiquitollispecatamundi

Жыл бұрын

*breaking

@karenhill3970

Жыл бұрын

I know!! But look too at all the happy times this magnificent creature had!!💚💚 Incredible story ..He actually bonded" with His human Family .sooo awesome G- gave this wonderful creature to us!!!!!!

Keiko and Free Willy also inspired MANY kids to become marine biologists and other environmental careers. Including 6 year old Lindsey, who always stuck with wanting to become a marine biologist because of that movie. She is now working as one and working on ways to save and rehabilitate coral reefs. The movies and the movement to save one whale did so much more that just brighten the life of one whale. It raised awareness to millions of people of the life of captive animals of all species and the world they and us live in.

@naturegirl5556

Жыл бұрын

This is similar to me haha. Although it was Dolphin Tale that sparked my interest to become a marine biologist around that age! I've still got a little way to go before I can achieve my dream but hopefully I will be working out there soon!

@kxkxkxkx

Жыл бұрын

Yes, many random morons are easily manipulated 😚

@arnowisp6244

Жыл бұрын

And they say Fiction can't affect Reality.

@mimiadams247

Жыл бұрын

@@arnowisp6244 Who says that?

@mimiadams247

Жыл бұрын

@Kakuna Rattata OK, so I'm dorky enough I had to look up GTA... 😆

Keiko had swam all the way from Iceland to Norway all alone. When he arrived and was located he was stressed and fatigued. Dude, he was desperately swimming for hundreds of miles hoping to find land and human contact but was freaking out when none appeared. He was terrified. That's why he was found so stressed out. Depression can weaken one's immune system. He was so sad that he became sick and died from pneumonia.

@David27mk

24 күн бұрын

Very sad way to go such an incredible intelligent creature

I'm a native Oregonian, and remember when they brought Keiko to Newport, I got to see him once as a kid. I love newport and the Oregon aquarium and visit several times a year. The place where keikos pen once was is now a sea bird exhibit.

Maybe from Keikos point of view, during all the years in captivity, he begun to consider humans as his pod. And what humans considered to be release to freedom, Keiko considered as banishment from his own pod...

@kitkat47chrysalis95

6 ай бұрын

disgusting. he should have been allowed to stay in Oregon. releasing an animal in the wild after 25 years with humans should be animal cruelty. Everyone involved should be sent to jail for at least 2 months so they can think long and hard about the suffering they caused on one of the most intelligent and social creatures on this planet.

@billrobinson7897

5 ай бұрын

@@kitkat47chrysalis95and the people that captured him in the first place? How many months in jail for them?

@kitkat47chrysalis95

5 ай бұрын

@@billrobinson7897 one, two for the ones who decided that he should be in a chlorinated freshwater tank, but good luck convincing the cartels in mexico to enact this justice. you are racist if you even try to hold the Latinos accountable.

@imle9279

5 ай бұрын

Him being free was the thing he needed, his health improved a lot and he was seen jumping and swimming fast, something he couldn’t do in an inclosed area. Him being free and seeking out humans is the perfect life for him, and he got to swim freely and visit different people whenever he wanted to. I would say he lived a good life out in the open, even tho it was cut short

@kitkat47chrysalis95

5 ай бұрын

@@imle9279 by that logic people should quit their jobs to go live wild and free in the wilderness where they can run free and sleep in until the sun naturally wakes them up hunting and gathering for food like the pre-modern humans did. by your logic a person who spends all day at a desk and then sits down in a moving box only to go sit down in a slightly bigger box is not living their best life. by your logic all of civilization will collapse. if it is good enough for the humans than it is good enough for the whales.

Keiko's story taught us why not all captive animals can be wild again, but that we can and should treat already captive animals well to the best of our ability and not make the same mistakes we made before. Keiko could have and should have lived a long happy life at the Oregon facility. Trying to free him was his death sentence.

@jeanr4886

Жыл бұрын

You are right. Sometimes you can't go back home, but you can stay and be safe, loved and cared for. Nobody even knew where Keiko was, that he was sick, gasping for air, in pain and dying alone. You don't think he died wondering what happened, or felt alone and abandoned? I think he did, being so intelligent, intuitive and emotional. Where were all the righteous people that set him free and then abandoned Keiko to die so cruelly? Those people should have been held responsible for Keiko in some way for the rest of his life, but what glory would there have been in that, instead they did their victory dances, turned their backs on him and walked away, washing their hands of him. Heartless, souless, unforgivable.

@ooXChrissieXoo

Жыл бұрын

They may have been able to do it, had they rehab a group of the orcas to be released together. That why Keiko didn't need to join any wild orcas.

@last-chance_

Жыл бұрын

No he should have been left in the bay in Iceland able to come and go Oregon was no better than all the other bathtubs they stuck him in! Go spend the night in a dog cage just one night. He had the right to have an ocean they just didn't need him to move out of the bay!!!!

@Typhon888

Жыл бұрын

It really shows why you shouldn’t listen to a bunch of idiots calling you demanding some animal that doesn’t belong to them to be put out into the wild.

@boulderbash19700209

Жыл бұрын

Why, of course they won't, even we, human with our resourcefulness cannot survive it if we are taken captive since childhood. A lot of people talk about America's freeing of slaves after their civil war. But only a few pointed out that almost one third of freed slaves died within a year because they just didn't know how to make a living by themselves.

Im glad to hear that after she was found again keiko was actually interacting with the locals and giving the kids ride on her back. Until the end she was sweet and gentle to kids

@decemberbaby_456

Ай бұрын

Keiko is a boy?

Goodness just makes me cry every time. I used to cry watching free Willy every time. We miss Keiko

I was fortunate enough to be directly involved with the Keiko project from the point that he was flown from Oregon to Iceland and for a couple of years afterwards. Everyone involved that I met who was involved in this project was deeply passionate about what they were doing with Keiko. The time that I spent with Keiko, the caretakers and support staff in Oregon and Iceland will always be one of my fondest memories. It may not have been a perfect plan, but it was not done out of malice, and it has inspired children and adults alike. One of them being my own daughter who is studying to become a veterinarian.

@RonLarhz

Жыл бұрын

Lucky u.

@jturtle5318

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for trying to help him. I never saw Free Willie, but I recently saw Blackfish, and the kidnapping scene was horrible. No cetacean should taken from its home and family.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

Do you know if either of keikos pens are still usable? Cause I can't help budge the idea his Iceland pen would be ideal as a sanctuary for some of the orcas still in captivity today. Would be amazing to see them moved into a sanctuary or at least where they have space to swim 🥺

@MrScuba1972

Жыл бұрын

Some past friends were a trainer and attendant in Newport and Iceland. Their enthusiasm for Keiko and the project were infectious and as young professionals they were afforded an amazing opportunity to be a part of the project. Due to what I assume were NDA's they couldn't speak about the nuts and bolts but it seemed to me that there experience was enormously positive and then it wasn't? Maybe that had something to do with funding but that is just my speculation. I did learn a new term though, "Pissed on Skate", which I was told is a bar snack in Iceland that has skate cured/aged by a unique process. Very interesting history and folks today should remember that not only was this a first but also a very different time :)

@roundsm18

11 ай бұрын

I saw Keiko in Oregon. I remember it being a sad experience. He never really looked happy. I remember them telling our class that.

Yes, Keiko's story is sad. But, it is worth noting a few things. One was that Keiko was the first orca to be released intentionally. As such, we were ignorant of many things that have become obvious since. Another thing to note is that from our experience with Keiko, we have discovered much better methods of preparing not just orca but, dolphins in general, to be released back into the wild. Sometimes sad stories teach us valuable lessons and, help us prepare for the future. Since Keiko was released, we have successfully released quite a few orca back into the wild.

@oliverallen3713

Жыл бұрын

He did swim off and live for a year in the wild before catching pneumonia (happens in nature), so really the only sad part was the fact his pod couldn't be located. Once thing is for sure: he had a much better life for the last 5 years during his rescue - both his physical and mental well-being improved greatly

@aidanwotherspoon905

Жыл бұрын

Ohh, what other whales have been successfully released? What names should I google?

@trueternity

Жыл бұрын

​@@aidanwotherspoon905There aren't many cases like Keiko's where the said animal was kept in captivity for 15+ years, but there have been quite a lot of releases, and the longest an orca has survived after being released into the wild was nine years, however i think it should also be considered that said orca (named springer if i remember correctly) was only in captivity for a total of a month. There was also Misha, a bottlenose dolphin who survived for 6ish years in the wild after being released from 9 months of captivity. I'm only saying all this from base data though, i do not know how they were sent back, how they were rehabilitated or any of that. You can search their names up. Theres also a pdf containing the records of all cetaceans ever released into the wild which you can find upon googling.

@trueternity

Жыл бұрын

Springer had also been sighted with a pod a number of times, though not his natal pod.

@trueternity

Жыл бұрын

Sorry for the rambling but i recommend you search them up, the stories of these cetaceans, especially Springer are much different than that of Keiko's.

I was anxious after each transition for you to say "then... Keiko died. " The pauses were unnerving.

This movie was from my childhood, loved it. Thanks for this, I had no idea.

There's a male orca in Florida who literally committed suicide by slamming his head into the walls of his enclosure to escape captivity. So inhuman to keep such intelligent creatures locked up in such a small pool for so long

@saraiangela

10 ай бұрын

Exactly how I feel about human prisons....

@willcurtiss6214

10 ай бұрын

@@saraiangelashut up

@AK-jt9gx

10 ай бұрын

And three days ago, his female companion Tokitae died after years of loneliness in a small pool, months before a plan to free her was to set in motion. So incredibly sad.

@tammyirwin703

10 ай бұрын

That orca was Hugo

@giftofthewild6665

10 ай бұрын

​@saraiangela some people are too dangerous to be free.

I think the issue about integrating Keiko to a pod was that orcas live in pods led by a mother or grandmother whale. Orca live in a matralinial family were it's a family of females, their offspring and their adult sons that kinda come and go as they please (but ALWAYS come back to mom). The reason Keiko was rejected was because he wasn't their son, therefore a stranger. If they found his original pod and his mother or grandmother was still alive, he could have been taken in through them.

@ErinMott09

Жыл бұрын

Exactly!

@PetaHewitt

Жыл бұрын

There is no guarantee they would recognise him. Would a human family be able to immediately recognise a child that was removed from them at the age of 2. And that child has no recognizable ability to use language and acts in bizarre ways.

@jellybean7283

Жыл бұрын

Male orcas are solitary by nature so him being rejected shouldnt be a cause for concern

@emilycarrick3570

Жыл бұрын

​@Jellybean Male Orcas are not solitary animals. They may break from their natal pod to hunt or to breed, but they return in time.

@piratekit3941

Жыл бұрын

If Keiko had been female, this would have had a much happier ending. Male orcas only have their mothers, and any brothers, or the occasional bachelor pod. Wild male orcas live a MUUUUCH shorter lifespan than wild females, entirely due to the fact they don't have that family dynamic. At least he was free, and people didn't just give up on him.

I am from Newport and this story is near and dear to my heart. My sister used to go see Keiko every week at the aquarium and the most significant person in my swimming career (my old swim coach) was actually his trainer while he was in Newport!

Free Willy slapped so hard when I was a kid. I doubt it would stand up to the rest of time and still be good today, but as a kid it was one of my favorite movies. Honestly this video made me grateful my grandma and grandpa showed me animals as a young kid whether it be going to the zoo or watching free Willy, I feel like it’s why I’m an animal lover today

@Smokeyjoedamanedamythdalegend

10 ай бұрын

Little morbid, but I’ve been a drug addict/alcoholic for years, I’d be around hard ass dudes, guns and drugs in the room, just tense vibes. If there was a dog I’d be playing and petting the dog the whole time I mean, literally every time if there is a dog I’m giving it some love. Funniest shit ever because the dealers never gave a fuck bout their dogs, they were usually their baby mammas dog so they just got annoyed by it and I’d be the one high as fuck loving on the dog not giving a damn what anyone thinks lmao. Like yea even in a bad environment a cute animal is a cute animal and I’m not ashamed to say it as a man

As a child growing up in Oregon I saw Keiko at the Oregon Coast Aquarium multiple times. I, like many children growing up in Oregon at the time were greatly inspired by Keiko, and followed news reports of his time in Iceland religiously. I was in 7th grade when he died, and I remember his death was huge news not just in school, but throughout the state. Oregonians had become quite fond of him.

@CT5555_

8 ай бұрын

I came to this comment section with the intention of leaving a very similar comment to this. You pretty much covered all the points. I've got old Polaroids of a very young me standing in front of him. The memories are quite fond, but age has sombered me to the reality that my interaction with that whale should have never happened.

@nincumpoop9747

7 ай бұрын

@@CT5555_ many animals live what would seem an unnatural lifestyle and still enjoy much. He lived a dynamic life both in the wild and with humans. Some would say he was blessed to be loved by so many and got a chance to be free which many a man at least has died for. I’m also from Oregon, I remember, I remember that Keiko broke the glass on orca captivity and hopefully his trials have improved the life of many other orcas. Smile for that I hope.

@KappaClaus

7 ай бұрын

I am Norwegian and was 9 when he died in my country. My favourite stuffed animal was a killer whale that was named Keiko

@gabrielquinones3343

4 ай бұрын

I probably bet that everyone knew they did the right thing but they got sad that now she’s dead but now they can say he was born in the wild and died in the wild

By the end of this I am heavily, openly sobbing. To die completely alone, rejected by your own kind AND neglected by the ones who'd taken you from them. How agonizingly sad.

@magnoliarose5910

Жыл бұрын

Me too! My baby who just turned one saw me crying. He came over, took my hand, put my hand on his face, and gave me his stuffed bear. 😭😭😭. More tissues please!

@Eddieking

Жыл бұрын

Same 🥲😭😢

@Alaryicjude

Жыл бұрын

That's why I say humanity is 🚮.

@niko7903

Жыл бұрын

@@Alaryicjude Unfortunately there is a lot of truth to that sentiment, however, there still remains an immense amount of good in humanity that tries to counteract the bad. Just try to do your best to not succumb to despair and giving up, that's when all hope is lost. There are many beautiful people who continue to fight to right the wrongs, and I do still believe humans can bring about a better world; we're the only species with that ability, and we need to obligate ourselves to doing just that. With great power comes great responsibility.

@Alaryicjude

Жыл бұрын

@@niko7903, I've got control over myself. It's most everyone else that seems to not do the same... I'm doing everything I can while still having lost all of my hope in humanity. I've listened to too much true crime to ever think humanity is worth a shit anymore. If you don't want to lose all faith in your fellow humans then don't look up Junko Futura or Sylvia Likens or any of the other literal children tortured and murdered by not just adults but also other children... Who then get a slap on the wrist and (as far as I recall) all of the people who tortured and murdered those girls are now free to do it again... Humanity does NOT stand up against true evil so that's why it keeps perpetuating.

He had 5 years living in the ocean. That was better then dieing in captivity! He had freedom for five years.

@IThinkNowListenUp

25 күн бұрын

We can't be certain his perspective in death: whether he felt abandoned and lonely, or alone and free to roam. We can only hope for the latter. However, given his interactions with people, I believe humans were his "pod," and he likely suffered from loneliness and stress because of that. I am inclined to think that the stresses of being lonely for a short year led to a premature death. It’s truly sad. He might have liked a vacation in the wild, but would probably have been overjoyed to return to captivity and that and the people there would have been considered "home".

Freedom was the right thing to do, regardless of the cost (I know it ain't my money), the wrong part was being captured for captivity in the first place. Bless these souls that tried.

As long as he could hunt on his own, I'd say it was mostly successful and not a waste. The methods for releasing these creatures need improvements, releasing the entire captive group together to form their own pod would likely be the best solution for the loneliness experienced by Keiko as they'd be familiar with each other.

@paulrasmussen8953

9 ай бұрын

Yesnit eas because he is desd and he died alone

@amyang7569

9 ай бұрын

Great idea

@goodday2826

9 ай бұрын

The problem with that is most Orcas in captivity aren't from the same areas, I remember reading somewhere in an article some whales came from Iceland, another from Washington I believe and just overall they were all taken from all over the world, They wouldn't be able to communicate

@DavidSmith-vc5rn

9 ай бұрын

Not a pod of orca you want swimming around the ocean,,because 1 the killer whales have only known humans to take care of them so the orca pod would stay close to humans,2nd these animals are very highly intelligent emotionally sentient beings that literally have the largest brains in the world,,and most likely were mistreated on a regular basis,,just by being held captive for entertainment,and 3rd these whales have very long memories,,these whales can think,feel,,and these animals can hate just like a human if not worse ,,now this pod of orca comes to fruition ,,what do you think this pod of released captive whales that were used for entertainment are going to do,,killer whales are highly highly vindictive animals ,,I know this because I used to work with killer whales,,a staff member I worked with hit a male killer whale with his fist one day when we were at work,,after that day ,everyday for 4 months that whale watched,and learned,,one particular day russell was on the deck feeding the wales,and the male killer whale jumped up on the deck grabbed Russell,and drug him to the bottom of the whale pool,and drown Russell,,,that day i learned killer whales were calculating thinking animals,,that can hate human beings if for no other reason that what we are .....

@kiaq1153

8 ай бұрын

not really, whales learn their pods language from birth. But perhaps they couldnt advanced their evolution and formed another cohesive way to communicate

As a little boy the Free Willy movie made me open up my heart for orca's. They became my favorite animal still are. i tried to become a marine biologist sadly i failed. Now i'm a chef amd glad the owner let my put up pictures of Keiko all around my kitchen. He may be gone. But never forgotten ❤

This legit breaks my heart. But, thanks for telling the story, so hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes

Poor baby😢 I’m happy he did get to live in a wide open ocean. it’s so sad he was lonely and I’m glad people still interacted with him .

I just imagine that in a few thousand years someone will find him and wonder why he was buried, like so many animals that we have found and wondered why our ancestors buried certain animals in elaborate burial sites and not others.

@allenreynolds8389

Жыл бұрын

Imagine if everyone knew where he was burried and left gifts or built a memorial to him archeologists of the future would thin there was a civilization that worshiped a whale as their deity.

@joriankell1983

Жыл бұрын

I doubt they will find much, with all the radiation and whatnot

@jwenting

Жыл бұрын

oh, they'll conclude that the people who lived on that site worshipped killer whales as gods. Not too far from the truth, given who was responsible for the burial.

@cheyennes.1878

Жыл бұрын

or they will watch this exact video hahaha

@cheyennes.1878

Жыл бұрын

or google it? Hahaha

This project is a good proof of concept. Proves two concepts: 1. That large aquatic captive mammals can be mostly rehabilitated. 2. the final step, social integration, is still beyond the scope of modern scientific research, and it is this specific phase that requires further in depth study.

I rarely comment on a documentary I find on KZread. I watch it, give a 👍 and leave to look for the next thing to watch. But this documentary was different. First, let me just say that the narration made it more captivating. I found myself watching more of the documentary than playing games on my phone while listening to it like I actually use to do. Music, everything, well done. Wanted to write more but I think I've said all I wanted to say. Now I will go and follow your channel. Thank you.

@chriztianwennersten4154

8 ай бұрын

...I found the next thing to watch..on your channel.

Incredibly sad. Thinking about him being alone is just heartbreaking

@oliverallen3713

Жыл бұрын

More sad than languishing in a barren concrete pool and slowly dying??? True, the ideal would have been for him to find his pod, bu least he had his freedom. Which would you prefer???

@nathanielfitzgerald4583

Жыл бұрын

@@oliverallen3713for a highly social animal stripped of his original family, once he had been seen to reject being independent he should have been aloud to live out his last days with humans. What had been done to him could not be undone, and he experienced “freedom”, but he should died with those that loved him, not alone.

@dukedematteo1995

11 ай бұрын

He was happy with humans in Norway ...

@paulrasmussen8953

9 ай бұрын

​@@oliverallen3713but je wasn't their anymore his last human conditions were pretty good.

The algorithm won this one....I adopted a new puppy a week ago and named him Keiko after Freewilly because it was a childhood favorite that brought me joy in my worst times...since being diagnosed with BPD and two inoperable brain tumors that his disabled me physically, I lost my hearing in my right ear, I have epilepsy and so many other medical issues and mental illnesses and the moment I got Keiko I felt joy return to my life, last night I was having a panic attack but was trying to hide it but somehow Keiko noticed then started pouncing all over me and nibbling on my hat etc I laughed so much tears came to my eyes and my belly hurt...I don't remember the last time I laughed like that...animals are gifts to humans and we definitely don't deserve them

@marthareichhold8201

Жыл бұрын

Hi Luka-Dante, Thank you for sharing your story....I'm so sorry for all your ailments. I love that you & your puppy, Keiko, have each other to love and cherish. God Bless you!

@Luka-DanteGodofMischief

Жыл бұрын

@@marthareichhold8201 thank you for your kind words they made me smile and I'm so happy I have him too..

Thank you for this amazing video!!! I loved Free willy growing up!

Retired cop here, sobbing like a baby. I'm just heartbroken. Poor Keiko😞😡

Imagine being taken from your home as a child by aliens, not all the aliens were nice, but you got lucky and found a group that not only liked you, but you liked them. All for those aliens to bring you back 25 years later and then chose to stick around but chose to ignore you. Family isn’t always blood, sometimes it’s close friends or even animal companions, Keiko didn’t get to choose his family and in the end he was discarded anyway.

@techpriest4787

Жыл бұрын

In other words. Nobody asked him what he actually wanted. He was set "free" to live an actual whale's life. Only to then end on a grave yard that people made because clearly that is how real whales die. I am afraid it has always been ironically more about what people wanted and not the whale.

@sirzorg5728

Жыл бұрын

@@techpriest4787 How exactly are we supposed to ask what an animal wants?

@techpriest4787

Жыл бұрын

@@sirzorg5728 you do not ask in the first place. In Star Trek it is called the prime directive. You do refraining to get involved with lower evolved lives in the first place. For Star Trek the line was a pre-warp civilisation. For out animals it should be the ability to communicate that is required for contact and involvement.

@mangosaurusrex3416

Жыл бұрын

@@techpriest4787too bad we can’t speak orca and ask him so I think our minds fill in the gaps with human attributes.

@Jolis_Parsec

11 ай бұрын

@techpriest4787 Release your pets then, Holier Than Thou. 😒

I got to see Keiko in the wild. The place he settled wasn't that far from the place where my family went on vacation every year. We didn't get to go close though, we just saw him from a distance. I remember the articles about how he was found. Ironically he was discovered by a group of kids who called him "Willy" before even knowing who he really was...then it turned out that they were right.

@mischr13

Жыл бұрын

omg, that's right, we used to call every orca "willy" in the 90's. memory unlocked

@thatonekid9400

Жыл бұрын

@@mischr13 Willy or Shamu

@briskii5329

Жыл бұрын

@tone you from the Bay?

Hats off to the people who made all the efforts and gathered all the funding. ❤

Growing up in Oregon, my brother and I adored Keiko!! My mom would take us every other weekend to go visit him. Had a strong bond with that dude.

Keiko was a truly kind soul

@joriankell1983

Жыл бұрын

How do you know?

@ye11owman29

Жыл бұрын

you don't know that.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

Keiko killed 2 seaworld trainers...

@lenah111

Жыл бұрын

@@CUTESWONno he didn’t. that was tilikum.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

@@lenah111 keiko killed alexis 2 months before tilikum killed dawn

The movie made me cried every time I watched it when I was a child. And now I am crying again! The case of Keiko raised awareness about captive animals back in 90s. Many kids were inspired to protect animals after the movie. It broke my heart to see him dying alone.

Damn, 20 years later and Willys got me all teared up again.

You should really be proud of this documentary you have done it touched me. Its a beautiful piece of art ❤

This was beautiful! The ending was sad, yes, but still. His life was better by far than staying in that pond in Mexico. Well done and thank you to everyone involved in this! ❤❤❤

@abiekanzy7619

3 ай бұрын

Freedom is bad for keiko, he did not know how to survive,he was bullied by other orcas. Freedom was not the answer. Leaving him in conservatory is the best option.

Poor baby. He should have never been taken from his parents to begin with. My heart is broken. I loved free Willy too and grew up during this time but sadly never knew this story. Marine mammals are too beautiful and intelligent to be treated this way by us greedy humans. I’m happy that keiko was able to live free again, but I’m also very sad that he died alone. Poor baby.

Atleast they tried and out in the effort. Plus if anything this shows how intelligent these animals really are

I knew the story yet it still brings a tear to my eyes. Rip bud!

This VERY interesting biography of WILLY - aka: KEIKO (his real name) was well done... to ALL OF USE WHO LOVED HIM! ❤

Pretty sad that the Norwegian government put restrictions on the interactions with Keiko. He was entirely domesticated and enjoyed the interaction he grew up with. Reminds me of how they shot that human-friendly walrus last year. The government is just terrified of any incident for which they could be blamed.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

Keiko had killed 2 seaworld trainers 🤷‍♀️

@mimimelendez6594

Жыл бұрын

@@CUTESWON Stop spreading misinformation. It was Keto and Tilikum who killed their trainers.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

@@mimimelendez6594 I literally left the link you can see the information for yourself that keiko killed.

@CUTESWON

Жыл бұрын

@@mimimelendez6594 kzread.info/dash/bejne/gqmO2s-gg9m3c9I.html

@rainman6090

11 ай бұрын

@@CUTESWON I don't see a link, but it doesn't matter. Keiko never killed anyone.

This is so cool. I had no idea that actually freed Willy. Bravo 👏

Lived in Washington and traveled to Oregon to see keiko. It was so magical to see him in person. I remember the encounter vividly.

We were lucky enough to see him in Newport before he left. He seems to love watching baby's and little kids. He seemed to seek them out and would float in front of them. I think the cost of helping Keiko was more then worth it. He died of pneumonia.

@chibicheeks78

Жыл бұрын

I’ve seen dolphins do that at sea world. A toddler in a stroller was plopped in front of one of the viewing windows and the dolphins crowded in front of him. I think it’s because they sense the purity of children and they’re drawn to it

@aina3387

Жыл бұрын

@@chibicheeks78 One of my favorite things about mammals is their ability to recognize babies of other species.

@last-chance_

Жыл бұрын

If I had 20 million I'd hand it over only they would have to take two to the bay in Iceland not all the BS they did with Keiko. Too bad all the rich POS won't fork over the money to free all that's left in captivity!

@ye11owman29

Жыл бұрын

@@chibicheeks78 nah cause they want to eat them. i think ur applying some kind of intelligence or human emotions to these animals. plus babies are not pure. they are basically shells w/no one inside of them

@jturtle5318

Жыл бұрын

​@@aina3387 my personal observation of that was with horses, the mares always loved kids. I had a mare who could be a bit wild, but the neighbor's kids would go in the field with bouquets of dandelions (she couldn't get enough) and walk under her belly.

i went and saw keiko at the oregon coast aquarium on july 16, 1995. it was my friend’s birthday gift to go to the aquarium. i was amazed and we got to feed him as well. i’m 43 now and i was 16 when i saw him. i donated $5000 to help keiko heal. i’m a native oregonian and the oregon coast aquarium has been helping pacific and other aquatic animals for a very long time. seeing keiko is one of my most cherished memories

The documentary Blackfish has a good suggestion. There needs to be an enclosed bay in the actual ocean where captive whales are “released” together. They can still hear and feel the movement of the ocean and hunt some of their own snacks. But humans owe them care until their deaths, just as if they were house pets. They aren’t fit for the wild. In Free Willy, Willy was captured as an adult already part of a pod. That’s why his release worked.

I knew he would be alone. I was actually worried the pod would attack him. But knowing he was rejected, wasn't surprising. Putting him in captivity institutionalized him. Humans ruined his life !

I didn't know Keiko meant lucky one and I seriously hope other orcas or the orcas in the wild can be restored. I'm still waiting for Lolita to be released into a better environment. I don't want her to die like Tilikum and the others as a captive orca

@lbabytutorials4852

Жыл бұрын

Kiska Lolita and kshamek have the smallest and worse living conditions

@sunitamosesesq

Жыл бұрын

Lolita is my only exception. At her age, and with her disposition, I really fear that moving her will be way too dramatic of a change and will cause her tremendous stress. The exposure to microorganisms in an open sea pen would totally overwhelm her system. And unlike others, Lolita is a privately owned whale. I hate her living conditions more than anything. It should be criminal to keep her in that tiny tank. But the fact is, her owner does love her. The fact that she has lived longer than any other whale in captivity EVER has, says A LOT. It's a testament to the care she's receiving. And even though we hate it, we do have to give that man credit for caring for his whale better than big billionaire SeaWorld/Anheiser Busch company. Lolita has a life and a daily routine which I now believe would cause her tremendous grief to lose, and she doesn't deserve to go through that.

@marieclark7019

Жыл бұрын

Not so lucky though,very unlucky although his life,a very sad story,how man captured him,chewed him up and threw him out,condemned him to death 😢

@horse-lover68

Жыл бұрын

@@sunitamosesesq Lolita's mother is still alive!! Aquarium's are LYING!! The normal lifespan of an orca is like the lifespan of humans, Lolita can become calves, she is NOT OLD, she is sick from captivity. And they left her alone in a hurricane!! Other people get prosecuted when they leave their animals alone. And they had enough time to bring her to SW. Look at this information, if the hurricane would not have made a turn Lolita would be dead.

@Halovian_

Жыл бұрын

I’m waiting for kiska ❤

He was 100% habituated to humans.I don't know why they didn't try an Orca companion so he wouldn't be alone.

@niecyedmon1881

Жыл бұрын

He got pneumonia from being stressed out because he was so lonely !!! Stress can kill you 😪

@onetallpheeesh

Жыл бұрын

Do you understand how hard it is to keep Killer Whales in Captivity?! Do you know the kind of space they need to truly have a healthy lifestyle? It's impossible to truly give them that kind of space. Maybe if Elon Musk Hyperfixated on Animal Conservation instead of Space Exploration...

@michellejones5541

Жыл бұрын

@@niecyedmon1881 the FACT is that he got to live for 5 years out in the wild making his own choices in water that was natural for him, it was doubtful he would have survived another month in Mexico, he needed treatment for his skin condition and desperately needed cold, deep, real salt water instead of a bleach filled fresh warm water in a bath sized pool. He relearned how to echo locate catch fish and interact with his environment how is this not a success? Also because of what was learned during his rehabilitation 2 beluga whales have been rescued from China and are being rehabilitated to the wild although it is taking longer than expected because of COVID. People are now becoming supporters of sea pens for captured whales and dolphins rather than leaving them to die in aquariums because of Keiko and that is a fabulous legacy for the world's most famous Orca

@MrJoeyWheeler

Жыл бұрын

They should have done that. Hell, they should have doubled down - gradually breed an entirely domesticated version of the Killer Whale.

@michellejones5541

Жыл бұрын

@@MrJoeyWheeler they were hoping to reunite him with his own family if they had taken another Orca as a companion that Orca would have then been left alone

I was a young child when free willy came and I liked it. This was cool to learn more about the whale himself. Nicely done 👍

I did not plan to get this emotional about an orca this late into the evening. This was a very well done documentary. Great job!

@Alisonws

10 ай бұрын

​@@chairmanofthebored8684R.I.P. Tokitae 🌊🐳🌅

At the end of the day he would’ve never survived as long as he did if he was left in Mexico City. And in Norway he did not have nets keeping him there and was allowed to come and go as he pleased. His caretakers said he would be gone for days sometimes. So he kind of got the best of both worlds. Just the awareness that came from Keikos journey was worth every penny they spent. If anyone is interested in researching captive orcas in DIRE need of this kind of help please look into Lolita at Miami Seaquarium, she is alone and in very poor conditions. And Kiska at Marineland of the Pacific, she is also alone and in a very small concrete tank and you can literally see the ocean from where she is captive.

@Alejojojo6

Жыл бұрын

Orcas live longer in Aquarium. Specially Orca cubs have a lower mortality rate at them than in the wild. It's a common misconception that people believe.

@lykiaookami6070

Жыл бұрын

@@Alejojojo6 Besides you being completely wrong since the life expectancy of captive orcas is around 10-45 years, while in the wild its up to 30-90 years, Medication to help the cubs live doesn't mean their tiny enclosures they can barely swim 3 body lengths in are amazing for them or the 10 fish they get for performing 20 tricks every 2 hours is enough, nor that the bare, sterile enclosures with no enrichment is amazing for their health and definitely doesn't cause them to self-harm and get aggresive. Orcas are incredibly complex animals, very much like we. Do you think you'd be able to live in a 2m² pure (insert whatever orca enclosure colour) box, with NOTHING in it and the only interaction/joy you get is walking nonstop in that 2m² box, escaping into your mind, blowing raspberries and every now and then from other people who tell you to do tricks and then throw a box of fries at you? Sure for a while, but not for long. We're very social creatures that need a lot of stimulus to be healthy mentally and physically because stress makes sick and kills, Orcas are the same.

@jpraz03

Жыл бұрын

I don't understand how this is still happening. It's sickening and what's it for to give some kids some smiles and laughs. They need to shut this down

He died exactly 8 days after my dad died. My dad died from undiagnosed and untreated Cystic Fibrosis. Keiko died from pneumonia, the fact that they both died of lung issues hurts my heart. Me and my dad LOVED Free Willy and watched it together as a family countless times. I had no idea what happened to him until now. Thank you so much for this video. RIP dad and Keiko. 😔🖤🖤

@SunriseSunsetSoul

Жыл бұрын

🦋🌌💙

@jeanninelockridge5235

Жыл бұрын

So sorry for your loss. I lost my dad too. We would watch Free Willy together all the time❤️

@liveuser8527

Жыл бұрын

Sorry, Are you trying to tell me your Dad reincarnated as a whale?... Sorry I wasn't really paying attention to your comment so please clarify

@theothertonydutch

Жыл бұрын

@@liveuser8527 You can not be this dense.

@liveuser8527

Жыл бұрын

@@theothertonydutch all I know is..Whales are psychic coinduits

Thank you for this video 😢

was not ready for this video.

Oregonian here. I got to see Keiko in Newport; we were so proud to have such a great facility for rehab. Such a cute animal!

@BubblegumLightsaber

Жыл бұрын

Same here, also Oregonian. I was a teenager at the time and was on vacation with my family in Lincoln City in the summer of either '96 or '97 (I'm leaning toward '97), and one day we drove up to Newport to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium and see Keiko.

@jordanjoestar-turniptruck

Жыл бұрын

Yep, his tank has since been converted into a shark tunnel. It's a great experience! A gentleman working in the gift shop will absolutely talk your ear off about sharks as long as you let him!

@megschmeedafamc

Жыл бұрын

I was going to comment this as well. I was about 10 or 11 when I got to see him. Such an amazing creature.

@amyc2546

10 ай бұрын

Is it still in use or usable now?

Keiko was like how we view our dogs today. He needed human love because that’s all he ever knew. As an Oregonian I am so proud we took him in

He died on my birthday. Free Willy was my fav movie as a kid…I’m so sorry Keiko!😢 I hope you’re with your ancestors. One of the few animals on this planet to endure such hardship and not hurt anyone. The important lesson here is to love our animals and not abandon them or use them. RIP Keiko aka: Free Willy

It makes me sad 😭 that these mammals get ripped away from there pods,and live in a tank &then get really unwell & are used for money purposes.And everything else that goes on with them. This is a great commentary about this famous Orca,at least it had some freedom in the wild,but really sad it couldn't find it's family 😭 RIP Keiko your not forgotten 🌟💙

Growing up in Oregon in the 90s i remember being one of those kids writing letters with the rest of my class thanking the group of people who were working to get Keiko to Newport and once they did our class took a trip across the state just to see him in his new facility there. Pretty interesting to look back at it now as an adult and being able to see some other perspectives on the situation.

The fact that he got to swim in the ocean is worth everything. It's like a human going from solitary confinement in a basement dwelling to living his last days in a cottage in the forest and no, Keiko didn't enjoy "the job" at the park, he was never taught anything else

I've always liked Orcas, "Killer Whales". Their black and white pattern is so beautiful. I've never seen one in real life before. I also like the very big and majestic Blue Whale, too. Just videos here on KZread is where I have seen these whales. This video was very informative. Made me cry. 😮🥺😟😢

I cried when Keiko's named was translated to "Lucky One". he lived up to the name

I grew up on the Oregon Coast and spent my childhood watching Keiko recover. I always kept an Oregon Coast Aquariun pass even to today even though the underwater tube that replaced him doesn't hit the same and I mostly go for the kids. After watching this yesterday and bawling my eyes out, I went and got the Oregon plate with gray whales that donates to marine mammals. Thank you for making me remember how beautiful Keiko's story was... it was easy to be upset they took him away and he died, but it was a good thing in it's own way. ♡

I often find marine parks and zoos really depressing Keiko is another example of this no matter how big a tank or cage its not as big as the actual outdoors. I witnessed a polar bear at a zoo in the UK as a kid the enclosure was small and the poor thing just looked like it probably had Zoochosis

Free Willy was one of those movies I watched again and again as a kid💔💔💔 😭😭😭

Because of what was learned from Keiko's journey, There has now actually been a successful release. They kept the project out of the media. They didn't hide it, they just didn't seek publicity. The whale is integrated into a pod, is healthy, and completely independent.

@austrobok2958

Жыл бұрын

how long had he been in captivity?

@GrapeApe2018

Жыл бұрын

@@austrobok2958 I'm not sure. I think they said in the documentary. It was a BBC Earth project.

@kylestrange4494

Жыл бұрын

Can't believe this. It would and should be in the media because of the scientific impact it would have. The world would know about it already

@kylestrange4494

Жыл бұрын

@@GrapeApe2018 watch it. Not alot to go off of in a video thats less than 3 minutes long but these orca were captured as adults and put into the whale jail in Russia. But when released they did so iwhere the orcas were captured from. All these things cannot be matched when talking about captive whales in SeaWorld and others that have been born in captivity. There are not any orcas currently in the US that were captured in the wild. Russia or China thats a different story. We will not have the same success in this video if we try to do this with orcas that were born in captivity. Thats literally the point

@austrobok2958

Жыл бұрын

@@kylestrange4494 So the lesson is: don't breed them in captivity. Just 'borrow' them from the wild for a couple of years then get them back to the sea.

Whilst this wasn't the sunshine and roses ending that people hoped for, it still gave Keiko a better life than he had at the time of filming. His story reminds me of how they release orphaned orangutans back into the wild. The babies are basically hand-reared by humans (they even wear nappies!), then as they grow up the young orangutans move through different stages of forest school learning how to be an orangutan and becoming less and less dependent on humans. Finally, a group of young adult orangutans are taken deep into the forest to form their own blended family unit (they've usually grown up together and have been observed getting along). I wonder if something like this could have been looked into whilst they were getting Keiko back to health? Hopefully, lessons were learnt from Keiko's story in how to help other orcas.

@AriellaSurfgirl

Жыл бұрын

Yes I agree. I feel like ppl who want to keep orcas in captivity are making this bout SEE they can’t survive! When there is an orca released in Russia that is with a pod now. I’m pretty sure thousands of cetaceans if not a million have died because of being put in captivity. Slaughtered so they can steal their calves dying from trial & error learning to KEEP them in captivity at all and DEFINITELY dying in deplorable living environments IN captivity. So ppl just want to scrap it cause oh keiko died. I think Keiko would want us to keep on trying to end captivity no more stealing animals from the wild, no more breeding them I’m captivity and keep trying nothing is impossible. Even IF they have to live in sanctuaries it’s better then the way they are living in captivity, The first whale I ever saw in captivity I still remember her name was either Anore or illamar I don’t know which it was a school trip they were Beluga whales I’ll never forget we both recognize each other’s sadness before I was rushed to the next exhibit. I recently found her name cause I looked up what belugas were at that aquarium at that time knowing my age then. They were there only from 1985 til 1989 when illamar died of a bacteria infection and in 1991 Anore was killed by a “supposedly” dolphin attack I’d rather they TRY and free them there was 2 more Belugas came after the Kia and Sikku they shipped off to San Antonio or sea world right after Anore died I can find no further record of them cept one article Sikko was helping another whale keep her new born calf alive by helping it to breathe but it died. It’s like they “conveniently” disappeared meaning they are dead and hidden and ppl do not know how many times that happens. Also yes I’ve seen that show or documentary you speak of I’ve sworn off palm oil because of it. And those ppl do amazing work that’s WHAT we need here more work to undo this terrible wrong

I hate that they call this a failure. Because it absolutely wasnt. he wasnt as free as the world wanted. But he got to be in the ocean, and feel the tide. They should really put all the orcas in captivity in an open ocean pen, it would be healthier for them if they cant survive in the wild

20 million. And it was worth every single cent!❤

People may have not got the results they wanted. But Keiko was able to choose how to live not forced. He chose to live with humans and he was free to leave anytime he wanted. To me, the project was a success. Keiko was free.

@crazyhairsinger

Жыл бұрын

He didn't exactly choose to be with humans. It's because he had been kept captive and in terrible conditions his whole life. Basically, it's like manipulating a kid making him think that being abused is ok from birth. The orca didn't even know what freedom tasted like, he didn't even know how to survive in the wild despite being "trained". Plus his injured fin didn't help. He would've been rejected by wild orcas anyway. He already did in 1985.

@dragonstooth4223

Жыл бұрын

he was the equivalent of a toddler when he was taken from his family ... not surprising he struggled to reintegrate. makes me so sad to see these beautiful animals in captivity. I've spoken with an ex trainer (used to be friends with one) and its even more heartbreaking how much they love their animals, but they convinced they are better off in a pool. No they are not.

@marquisdelafayette1929

Жыл бұрын

Dude it was literally Stockholm Syndrome, just like children who are raised in an abusive household don’t realize that what they are receiving isn’t really love. Look at child actors. They were kidnapping infant whales. John Crowe, a former diver, explains the kidnapping process in one of the most poignant interviews in Blackfish. In 1970, he was involved in a kidnapping operation in Puget Sound, Washington. When he and the other hunters tried to get the baby orcas into a stretcher, the family was in a big line communicating and refused to leave when their nets were removed. At that point, he realized he was kidnapping a child from its mother. On the verge of tears, he said it was the worst thing he’d ever done. When the hunt was over, there were three dead whales in the net. Crowe and two others cut the bodies open, filled them with rocks, put anchors on the tails, and sank them. Orca hunters were ejected by the state of Washington in 1976. The order specifically told SeaWorld to stop capturing killer whales, so they went from Washington to Iceland and began capturing there.

@dragonstooth4223

Жыл бұрын

@@marquisdelafayette1929 yeah that's made even more horrifying when you know things like Orcas have culture and family bonds like we do and their maturity rate is about the same as us (its somewhere around the 15-18 years mark that the whales mature). Orcas are about as complex as us, they just don't make things like we do. and worse ... there are still captures going on today for the trade. China for instance loves putting marine mammals in captivity for entertainment. Russia is more than happy to help them with it too.

@alexandriarennie5992

Жыл бұрын

Actually pods are known now to each speak a different language so if one was to join another pod they wouldn't understand what they are saying pods that are created by orcas who were cast out lost or just left aren't even good enough at hunting to hunt large game like actual pods

They should let him play with the local, he seemed happy with the human interaction and the freedom in the real ocean. You can’t expect him to be fully wild orca after live so long in captivity.

@jewelvex

9 ай бұрын

In theory that would be amazing, as both keiko and humans would benefit from the experience. In reality, however, there is a notable danger to the humans that keiko interacted with. If he had accidentally or purposefully hurt one of the people he swam with, things could have ended much worse for him

@modkip25

9 ай бұрын

but it's still dangerous lol

@ForeverHobbit

9 ай бұрын

have you seen what captive orcas have done to their caretakers? Don't play with a fucking orca, captive or not. Can be a life's experience in a way for 1000 people then 1 guy gets trashed and killed

@SaraNightfire1

8 ай бұрын

@@jewelvexAnother big factor is that people aren't always kind to animals. Especially wild ones. There are stories that I read growing up where dolphins would follow and get extremely close to ships. Most ended up being shot at by passengers after they made headlines. Or so close to shore manmade things would kill them.

@rigel2112

8 ай бұрын

People need to stop treating wild animals like pets. Orcas are the wolves of the ocean. They hunt in packs and are ruthless killers that can catch up with fast boats easily. Letting people play with them thinking they are in a disney movie would end in disaster.

I met keiko 32 years ago at Mexico City’s Reino Aventura. Got splashed by his gigantic fins and fell in love with him ever since. I still remember that day like it just has happened a few years ago. ♥️

Ah damn, i loved those movies as a kid. I never knew or even thought about what happenend to Willy :(

This movie was huge to my childhood, and this documentary brought me to tears 😢

I was wondering what happened to my favorite childhood whale. It breaks my heart that Keiko never fully recovered.

Releasing Keiko to the wild killed him. He was too young when he was taken, Orcas don't just accept an outsider as one of their own, and then everyone else turned their backs after rehabbing and releasing him. He would have been just fine staying at the rehab in Oregon. Way to go people....glad you all know better than everyone because we needed to do the "right thing"

The kids that contributed to Keiko’s freedom and those which helped rehabilitate Keiko re enter the wild are his pod family. He knew those who would never reject him were his Killer Whale family. And Keiko will immortally be a part of many pod family’s among us in our hearts forever as a testament to all living mamals no matter how different we are.

kaiko was mentally damaged from years of isolation, just as any human would be. his immune system badly damaged from YEARS of isolation, poor care and all the other issues that only happen from holding them in captivity. but unlike many of those poor animals still held captive, HE got to die seeing the sea and feeling freedom.

@susanmccormick6022

Жыл бұрын

Maybe,just maybe,these tragic stories will discourage hoomans from interfering with nature for any reason whatsoever,though am not holding my breath.I am glad Willy found a taste of freedom,but so sad about the outcome.I hope people will have learned their lessons but frankly,doubt it.Homo stupidous has not got a good track record for other species welfare,ask the dodo,great auk, Tasmanian tiger & others.I sincerely hope merefolk,Big foot,Nessie & others rumoured to exist,are never found Because if they are,I dread to think what would happen.As a species,humans are the pits.Thankfully,there are more & more who are seeing the light.May their numbers grow & lessons be learned.

@maxdurbin3033

Жыл бұрын

I'm isolated and does anyone take ME to the sea? No, no they do not. Why'd HE get to die seeing the SEA and feeling freedom and I DON'T?!?! I'm am intelligent albeit mentally damaged individual. NOT FAIR

@NoFaceMaiden

Жыл бұрын

@@maxdurbin3033 you have the means to escape and get to the sea by yourself, go for it. lol

@austrobok2958

Жыл бұрын

He was physically never in shape as his dorsal fin never straightened. Meaning he never went on high speed deep dives while hunting..

@maxdurbin3033

Жыл бұрын

@@NoFaceMaiden No, you don't understand. I'm very fat, not unlike a whale. My enormous gut and limbs do not suport their own weight. Please explain why willy gets special treatment.

This was Keiko's perspective: Kidnapped from his family and exploited by humans for profit. Some of the humans he met were caring but many were despicable. Suddenly, he's kicked out by his adoptive family. Other whales don't accept him because he's not one of them anymore. He tries to seek out humans, remembering that some were kind to him. At first they are welcoming and take rides on his back but suddenly they become cold and he's ostracised again. Occasionally some friendly humans visit him but they also seem aloof, hiding from him to encourage him to leave. He probably lost the will to live. RIP.

@crazydoggentleman7930

Жыл бұрын

Agreed, the poor thing didn’t deserve to feel abandoned after all he had been through. RIP Keiko.

@howardroark7726

Жыл бұрын

@@crazydoggentleman7930 Yea, the intentions may have been good but orcas are social. If he couldn’t fit into a wild pod, he should at least have had some human companionship. In hindsight, the Norwegians could have let people interact.

@sissysovereign1294

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised that along with pneumonia, he also died of a broken heart.

@tanepukenga1421

Жыл бұрын

Your anthropomorphizing. How would a Orca have a concept of money and form an emotional resentment via that? From the Orca's perspective, all that can be said for certain was it remembered it's family vocalization and SEEMED to be lonely. Even then, the lonely part might be wrong since he didn't try to interact with the clans related to him and his previous interactions with Orca other than his own pod were violent and harassing. The best thing we can do for these animals is to stop throwing all our own human emotions, mindsets and expectations at them, hoping something we recognize sticks.

@howardroark7726

Жыл бұрын

@@tanepukenga1421 I didn't say Keiko had a concept of money. Please don't misrepresent what I said. I don't think it's a stretch to say he had interactions which were pleasant and other interactions which were negative. It's not necessary to have a concept of money for an infant to feel distress when it is separated from its mother. What is the basis for saying he didn't try to interact with clans related to him? He was not under observation at all times so what was observed was that he was in the company of a pod of orcas then subsequently he wasn't. I don't think it's unreasonable to think an animal that is social would be uncomfortable outside of a group. In Blackfish, a person who captured young orcas spoke about the distress and anguish the pods seemed to be when a calf was captured. I suppose you don't think that can be assumed to be some form of emotion so there's no reason for us to have a conversation again.