What happend to Keiko?

From 1999 to 2003, Jean-Michel Cousteau and colleagues at the Free Willy Keiko Foundation were part of a pioneering effort to rehabilitate Keiko and give him the opportunity to return to the wild after more than 20 years in captivity. Thanks to this effort and support from millions of contributors as well as dedicated philanthropists, scientists and animal husbandry experts, we were able to advance our knowledge about killer whales through Keiko and to give him humane care for the rest of his life. Keiko was returned to his native waters in Iceland and lived free although with continuing husbandry and medical support until his death in December of 2003.

Keiko’s story is available in shortened form in Hour One of Call of the Killer Whale, available under on the Sea Ghosts and Call of the Killer Whale DVD at our online store.