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  1. Keiko (orca) - Wikipedia

    • Keiko (c. 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. After years of preparing Keiko for reintegration, Keiko was flown to Iceland in 1998 … See more

    Other name(s)Siggi · Kago
    SpeciesOrca (Orcinus orca)
    SexMale
    Bornc. 1976
    Life

    Keiko was captured near Reyðarfjörður, Iceland in 1979 at the approximate age of two and sold to the Icelandic Aquarium in Hafnarfjörður. At the time, he was named Siggi, with the name Kago given at a later date. … See more

    Death

    Keiko resided in Taknes Bay, which was a clear inlet of coastal water where he was free to roam. There he was fed and looked after by keepers. Keiko had a tracking device attached to his dorsal fin that allowed hi… See more

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  1. Free Willy Was Based More On Lies Than A True Story …

    Oct 3, 2023 · Keiko, the orca who played Willy in the 1993 film, was captured, mistreated and failed to survive in the wild. Learn how the movie inspired a campaign to free him, but also exposed the challenges...

  2. Keiko's Life Story - Orca Network

    Learn about Keiko, the orca who starred in Free Willy and was released back to the wild after years of captivity. Find out how he was captured, moved, mistreated, and rehabilitated in his journey to freedom.

  3. What Happened To The Whale From Free Willy After …

    Aug 17, 2023 · In 1993, an orca named Keiko became a worldwide star after appearing in the movie Free Willy, but what happened to the whale after the film is a tale of tragedy. With a name meaning "lucky one," Keiko was captured in …

  4. Long Synopsis – The Untold Story

    Learn about the life and legacy of Keiko, the orca star of the film Free Willy, who was released into the wild after years of captivity. The documentary reveals the challenges, controversies and mysteries of his journey, based on exclusive …

  5. KEIKO, THE ORCA STAR OF FREE WILLY, FAQ

    Jul 19, 2023 · Keiko was a captive orca who starred in the movie Free Willy. He was rescued from a tiny tank in Mexico City and moved to a seaside sanctuary in Iceland, where he lived for more than five years before he died.

  6. Free Willy (1993) - IMDb

    A boy befriends a captive orca whale and tries to free him from a marine park. The film features Keiko, a real orca who was later released into the wild, and Michael Jackson's theme song.

  7. Keiko the orca's Oregon odyssey: From 'Free Willy' to …

    Mar 29, 2024 · Keiko was a male orca who starred in the movie Free Willy and was later released back into the ocean after years of captivity. Learn about his life, his journey and his death in this historical...

  8. Keiko The Untold Story of The Star of Free Willy

  9. Free Willy - Walt Conti

    Learn how Walt Conti and his team created self-contained, self-propelled, free-floating animatronic killer whales for Free Willy, a film about the friendship between a boy and a killer whale. The whales were designed to match Keiko, …