-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message -------- BBC, September 13, 1999 Willy shuns freedom The killer whale "who is incapable of attacking a baby herring" The bid to release the Free Willy star Keiko the killer whale into the wild has been a failure, admits the project's spokesman. Keiko was airlifted to Iceland more than a year ago amid great expectations that the mammal could be returned to his native waters. The star of the 1993 film Free Willy - in which a young boy attempts to release a mournful captive whale - has not yet left his special floating enclosure in Klettsvik fjord, south of Reykjavik. The 22-year-old animal is still unable to fend for himself and has not learned to catch fish. An adult killer whale requires 100kg of fish a day. Keiko still refuses to even eat live fish. "His re-adaptation to natural, or wild sea life is a total failure," said Hallur Hallson, a spokesman for the Free Willy support group, who funded the rehabilitation. Killer whales can only survive in groups, but the former film star has never shown any interest in playing with his counterparts in the wild. When his underwater cage was damage in a recent storm, the whale made no attempt to swim to freedom. It had been hoped he could be reunited with his mother - as the female whales can live for more than 90 years. Keiko, which means 'Happy Boy' in Icelandic, was captured off the coast in 1979. After a spell in a local zoo, he travelled to Canada and Mexico before appearing in the hit film. A Life magazine article highlighted the "unacceptable" conditions he was being subjected to. A $4m donation from Free Willy's makers, Warner Bros, boosted the effort to release the whale. With that hope now dead, Keiko's keepers have asked the local authorities to allow the whale's enclosure to be enlarged - so he can be taken for "accompanied walks". The team who care for Keiko reckon the effort has not been wasted. They claim that experts have learned much about whales by observing the famous captive. They say it is well worth the $1.7m spent every year to feed and care for the 6.3m mammal. Jon Gunnarson, the man who first caught Keiko, is more cynical about the project. "I think it's repugnant to think that American children are breaking open their piggy-banks to finance the captivity of this warted and ailing animal, who is incapable of attacking a baby herring, and who will never ever make it to the deep sea again." ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. -- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
