Keiko the Orca Escapes Recapture

October 2002

In August 2002, following 20 years of captivity, Keiko the killer whale was freed from a pen in Iceland where trainers had spent three years and $20 million to prepare him for his return to the wild. Then, after only six weeks of freedom, Miami Seaquarium applied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for permission to recapture Keiko and put him back in jail for the rest of his life.

PETA quickly posted an action alert and Keiko’s supporters contacted NMFS to ask that it deny applications from Miami Seaquarium and any other aquarium applying for permission to capture and imprison Keiko. As requested, NMFS returned the application.