13. Desember 2003
World famous Keiko the Whale has died in his winter quarters
World famous killer whale Keiko from the "Free Willy" movies has died at his winter quarters in Norway.
He was found dead on Friday evening near the dock at Halsa, after he apparently suddenly took sick earlier in the day, public broadcaster NRK reports.
Keiko (27) found his way to Norway in September of last year, to the small township of Halsa in the county of Moere og Romsdal on the northwest coast of Norway.
Since 1998, Keiko had lived in a closed-off bay in Iceland, in order to re-adjust to life in the ocean. In early July 2002 he was again given his freedom, but returned to the bay after four days.
On July 17th Keiko was again led out to sea, and supposedly lived in the open sea, until in the middle of August the radio-tagged whale was traced to waters 250 miles off the coast of Iceland.
However, on September 1st of 2002, it seemed Keiko finally found his haven in a small Norwegian fjord at Nordmoere.
And there is no doubt that he liked it there. He joind the children for swims at the local beach, and was not as shy as some of his human counterparts of the movie world.
He did not mind shaking "hands" with the local fishermen, and quite enjoyed accompanying them to their favourite fishing spots.
Halsa mayor Margrete Seter says Keiko will be missed at the township, which has been put on the map by Keiko.
(NRK/Norway Post)