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Article: 'Free Willy' whale seeks life among humans, Keiko remains star attraction of his own show
- Article from:
- Charleston Daily Mail
- Article date:
- August 21, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2003 Charleston Daily Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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TAKNES BAY, Norway - Keiko the "Free Willy" whale still doesn't
want to be free.
It's been about a year since Keiko was freed from his pen - and
swam straight back to human companionship. With the killer whale
drawing 200 to 400 fans a day, the bay he calls home seems more like
a low-budget "Keikoland" than an experiment in returning a captive
orca to the wild.
To keep people from entering the water, Keiko's keepers posted a
24-hour guard and put up orange ropes with "no access" signs along
the shore. Temporary nets span the bay to keep small boats out.
Local farmers charge 20 kroner (about $2.70) for parking in dirt
lots with official-looking Keiko signs. Other signs point down a well- ...