Ireland, Iceland Offer Help For Keiko To Return To Sea Next Step For Famous Orca Is A Floating Pen In A Bay Or Fjord

Ireland is ready to give Keiko a new home in the North Atlantic, and Iceland is definitely interested, according to the foundation that owns the famous killer whale.

Scotland remains a question mark.

A delegation from the Free Willy Keiko Foundation recently returned from a five-day tour of those countries, intended to gauge interest in plans to move Keiko to a North Atlantic net pen that would float in a bay or fjord.

The move would be another step toward the possible release of Keiko into the wild.

Since Keiko was moved from a small pool in a Mexico City amusement park to a 2 million gallon tank in Newport more than two years ago, he has grown bigger, stronger and healthier.

The foundation believes he’s ready for the next step, which will help determine whether he can survive in the open sea.

Ireland is willing to allow the placement of Keiko’s pen in a bay on the nation’s western shore, said Bob Ratliffe, spokesman for the delegation.

Ratliffe said Irish officials at a meeting in Dublin on March 5 took the position that, “You decide you’re coming to Ireland, and then we’ll take care of all the details.”

A meeting two days earlier in Reykjavik with David Oddsson, prime minister of Iceland, was also encouraging, Ratliffe said.

After hearing the foundation’s presentation, Oddsson and other officials said they would make a decision within 60 days.

“He (Oddsson) was exceedingly positive,” Ratliffe said.

“He said he wants this to happen, and he wants to make it a possibility.”

Among the reasons for the 60-day delay is to allow time for Iceland’s chief veterinarian to review Keiko’s health records.

A panel of marine mammal experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently completed tests on Keiko and found him to be in good health.

The delegation also stopped in London to meet with Great Britain’s delegate to the International Whaling Commission, but the group was unable to connect with Scottish officials who must review the foundation’s request.

Ratliffe said the foundation has sent Scottish officials a written proposal and will make contact with them soon.

Foundation directors will review the delegation’s report and decide which direction to take.

There are probably eight to 10 good locations in each country, Ratliffe said.

The foundation expects to select a host country within 60 days.

After that, foundation representatives will travel to the country, settle on a site and make arrangements for its use, Ratliffe said.

A company in Washougal, Wash., will build Keiko’s pen - a floating pen 60 percent larger than Keiko’s current tank in Newport.

The pen will be shipped to the North Atlantic and assembled in a bay with a narrow opening that could be closed off by nets.

Keiko will be allowed to adjust to the pen, then roam the bay and eventually - if all goes well - swim into the ocean.

The foundation hopes that Keiko and his training staff can be moved to the North Atlantic site this fall or in spring 1999 at the latest.