KeikoAtOregon

        On January 6th 1996, more than 100,000 people came to Rieno Aventura to say "bye" to Keiko, because of the un-expected event Keiko's flight was deleyed for about 2 houres. He was escorted in a railway container and followed by police until he was placed aboard onto the plain.

         Keiko was flown in Hercules C-130 which arrived at Newport Aeroport just before 3 pm, the trip took a bit longer than 12 houres because the planed needed re-fueling two times, once at Monterrey, Mexico and once at Phoenix,Arizona

         Once lowered into his new home after being out of water for about 18 houres, Keiko swam around for a bit and was ready to finaly eat, after not being fed for a day because of on-coming trip.

         Keiko settled in very well in his new home which was four times larger than his previous one and instead of just having plain boring walls it had rocks and canyons to help him with his sonar soundings. The new pool also had jets to change the water circulation so that he doesnt get bored by swimming in just one direction. The water was also much cooler.

          For the 1st time in 14 years Keiko experiances real sea water. When he arrived he was well under weight had problems with his imune system and has very bad skin lesions around his pecks. All that was about to change.

          He was fed well on daily basis and asked do various of behaviours in order to prepare for his eventual release, he was also asked to "make up" tricks of his own, which he happily did.

          It was in Oregon Coast Aquarium that Keiko had his 9th tooth from the right bottom lower jaw removed. In May of 1997 he is being introduced to live fish in order to teahc him how to hunt for his own food. At the beggining he would only play with ot or bring ot back to his trainers just like he did with the crabs which were in his tank. Keiko succesfully catches and eats "his 1st fish" in August. Keiko was getting helthier and heavier, after 18 months at Oregon Coast Aquarium he weighter 9, 620 pounds which means he gained a total of 1, 900 pounds and his skin leasions have completely dissapeared!

         A filtration problem causes a halt in the live-fish release in his tank, but the program resumes early in 1998. However Keiko's health is not perfect he suffered from a possible liver ailment and respiratory infection but has luckily responded to treatment.

         By 1998 Keiko is healthy and exhibiting normal behavior patterns of a killer whale. Its nearly his time to go home! In April, Familian Industrial Plastics in Washougal begins building a bay pen for Keiko in Iceland, his home.
         On September 9 1998 Keiko was lifted from his tank in and transported by C-17 directly from Newport to Vestmannaeyjar Iceland.

*Keiko In Iceland