Keiko
the killer whale that starred in Free Willy
could soon be heading for Scotland.
The
move comes as fears rise over increased whaling
by Iceland, where Keiko now lives.
In
the Hollywood film the 2-ton whale was released
from captivity by a small boy. In real life
he was left to languish in an aquarium in Mexico
City before world-wide protests resulted in
him being rescued and moved three years ago.
However,
six months ago Iceland rejoined whaling nations
Norway and Japan, prompting fears that if he
is released from his pen off Iceland’s
south coast he could be hunted down.
Fish
Farm Threat
Another
threat could be a huge fish farm near Keiko’s
home in Klettsvik Bay is due to be stocked with
250 tons of salmon. Experts fear that ammonia
given off by the salmon could pollute the bay
and may harm or kill Keiko.
His
keepers at the US-based Ocean Futures Society,
who have failed to return Keiko to the wild,
now want to move him and continue efforts to
reintroduce the 25 year-old killer whale to
the sea. Around 60 attempts have failed, either
because he returned, or because he was rejected
by killer whale pods.
Among
locations being considered are Scotland’s
west coast, Orkney and the Hebrides.
Location
Scouting Planned
Jeff
Foster Director of Operations at Ocean Futures
said; "Before we came to Iceland we looked at
other sites in Ireland and Scotland, including
the Hebrides and Orkney. We will take another
look, perhaps next spring."
Pods
of killer whales migrate through Scotland’s
coastal waters and whale watching –-now
a £700million-a-year global market—could
bring tourists flocking to Scotland to see the
star.
Matthew
Kane, curator of Deep Sea World at North Queensferry,
believes it would be feasible for Keiko to come
to Scotland. He said; Scotland offers a numver
of areas which would make an ideal home for
Keiko, but we have to remember the huge cost
of looking after a creature like this."
