Oregonians Anxiously Await Killer Whale

The first step in a long and uncertain journey to freedom begins today for “Free Willy” star Keiko the killer whale as he flies from an amusement park in Mexico City to his own custom-built pool on the Oregon Coast.

Despite a forecast of rain, throngs of people are expected to line U.S. Highway 101 to get their first glimpse of the whale that won their hearts in a surprise movie hit and could become the first killer whale to return to the wild after a life in captivity.

United Parcel Service was scheduled to fly the whale by C-130 from Mexico City, where he has been the star attraction of Reino Aventura amusement park, to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. There a $7 million pool has been built to get him in shape for an attempt to return him to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The pool is filled, the life support system is running,” said aquarium President Phyllis Bell.