‘Free Willy’ Whale To Get New Home

Enough money has been raised to begin construction of a new home for the killer whale made famous in the movie “Free Willy.”

The 21-foot, 3-ton whale named Keiko has been languishing in a pool in Mexico, suffering from skin trouble and weight loss, although a veterinarian has determined the animal is not in immediate danger of dying.

More than $5 million has been raised to build a 2 million-gallon tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium after the whale captured American hearts in the Warner Bros. film.

Warner Bros. and New Regency Productions donated $2 million to the project, and an anonymous donor from Washington gave $2 million.

Earth Island Institute, the San Francisco organization that has been working to relocate the ailing orca, said one hurdle remains before Keiko can be brought to Oregon from the Reino Aventura marine park in Mexico City.

“There’s no ‘formal-formal’ agreement that’s been signed,” said David Phillips, Earth Island executive director. “We’re poised to do that.”

The agreement to donate the whale must be signed by Keiko’s owner and Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Aquarium president Phyllis Bell said Keiko should be moved into his new tank by November. No one knows whether Keiko can ever be released into the wild.

The tank will cost $7.1 million. Another $2 million to $3 million is needed for a loading dock for Keiko’s truckloads of frozen fish and staffing for the new whale tank.