Free Willy (1 Viewer)

[KC Foggin]

I sadly see where Keiko the killer whale has passed on from pneumonia.

 

[Beverlybaynes]

Oh, how sad!

They are such beautiful creatures.

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Apparently he was 27 - captured at the age of 2, then lived only 18 months after he was released.

 

[KC Foggin]

If what I have read is correct, then he never did make it back into the open seas. I also read that the normal life span of a wild killer whale is 35

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

According to Teletext he was living in a Norwegian fjord, and was a great attraction!

 

[Edward]

Yes, Keiko, Iceland's most famous citizen is no more. He did make it back into the wild (swam from Iceland to Norway last year - as good an example of out of the frying pan and into the fire as you could get) but the saddest thing is not that he died (he had to die anyway at some time) but that this social creature was captured young from its natural environment and spent the vast majority of its life in isolation in captivity performing tricks for the titillation of humans. A revolting way to spend one's life.

E

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

This is an extract from the Observer:

His six-ton carcass was found floating on the clear, coastal waters of Taknes Fjord, Norway, late on Friday. Keiko had, according to his handlers, died quickly.

If he had "handlers" that doesn't indicate freedom. The whole article can be read at:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1106683,00.html

 

[helenol]

this social creature was captured young from its natural environment and spent the vast majority of its life in isolation in captivity performing tricks for the titillation of humans. A revolting way to spend one's life.

Edward, I agree with every word you say.

 

[Leif]

Yes, Keiko, Iceland's most famous citizen is no more. He did make it back into the wild (swam from Iceland to Norway last year - as good an example of out of the frying pan and into the fire as you could get) but the saddest thing is not that he died (he had to die anyway at some time) but that this social creature was captured young from its natural environment and spent the vast majority of its life in isolation in captivity performing tricks for the titillation of humans. A revolting way to spend one's life.

E

I visited Sea World in Florida about 5 years ago. An amazing place, and worth a visit, but seeing a Polar Bear in a small room was upsetting. I think it isn't fair to keep such intelligent creatures as mammals in small cages though I suspect it is not so bad for a Killer Whale as it gets more attention from handlers. Can't say I like zoos. The only value I can see to keeping mammals in zoos etc is as breeding stock for future re-introduction to the wild.

 

[seb_seb]

"The only value I can see to keeping mammals in zoos etc is as breeding stock for future re-introduction to the wild"

I also think they are an effective and easy way to develop interest in the natural world in people. If children werent took to zoo`s on the day out or whatever, we`d probably end up with a bunch of Bush-style policy people running around "Lets kill them and make them rarer, this way people get more fun when they see them"
Although i agree that a lot of zoo conditions are very cruel and harsh and that there are other ways to create interest about the natural world, its just that zoo`s are a lot more popular than some of the other ways.