Instructions about how to support Keiko to stay free

[Guest guest]

From Pauline Beades <jjceaser

Date 06:12 Oct 8

 

KEIKO STILL NEEDS OUR HELP!

Welcomed by Norway

Miami Seaquarium loses bid -- for now

 

 

Hello everyone,

 

This to give you up a brief update on Keiko, and to ask for your help once

more. Keiko is fine in most respects, and plans are forming that will take

him forward towards his ultimate goal of freedom, but worrisome things are

happening also. Since our last update (9/4) Keiko has been given a clean

bill of health - by his personal veterinarian, Dr. Lanny Cornell, by local

veterinarians working with Dr. Cornell, and by Norwegian animal welfare

authorities. Measurements of his body indicated that he arrived in

Norwegian waters in great physical condition - he had not lost weight at

all and must have gained tremendously in fitness during his long trip from

Iceland. There is no question that he has learned to forage for himself, a

key ingredient to his ultimate success. Just as relevant to his situation,

Keiko has been given a warm welcome by the government of Norway as well as

by the community of Halsa. The sentiment that has embraced Keiko brought

an 8 year old girl to Halsa to play the theme from Free Willy to Keiko on

her

harmonica. It was the only tune she knew, and Keiko responded to it as if

he was still in the movie. The incident, of course, served also to

highlight Keikos greatest remaining problem - his attachment to people

..

Freeing him from that attachment, or finding a balance that works for him,

is Keiko and the projects greatest present challenge. Soon, Keiko will

be moved from Halsa to a more remote location where he will be free to come

and go. Project crew will be on hand to assist Keiko as needed. Our hope

remains that Keiko will continue to have the opportunity to pursue his

quest towards freedom, and we are enormously thankful to Norway for giving

him

that chance. Just the same, dangers continue to lurk in the shadows,

perhaps especially in the USA.

 

Yesterday, we learned that the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

has turned down a bid from the Miami Seaquarium to capture Keiko and take

him back to the USA. This is very good news. Norway had written a GREAT

letter in response to the Miami Seaquarium and this probably is what tipped

the scales for NFMS. Here

are some highlights from this letter.

 

Norway will not make any problems for the project that has been going on

since 1999 with the approval of the relevant U.S. authorities. These

authorities still supervise the project.

 

In principle we are skeptical to keeping huge animals like whales in

captivity.

 

At the moment the whale has a freedom that makes it possible for him to

make choices.

 

Iit would be a great step back to put him in an aquarium again.

 

I would like to assure you that the people in Halsa are now very much

attached to Keiko, and would not like to see him depart.

 

It is not often that we see governments express these kinds of sentiments

so openly, and we would like to encourage Norway to hold to these views

throughout the next difficult stages of the Keiko project. Nor do we doubt

that some factions in Norway would like to see a very different outcome for

Keiko than the prospect of living freely in Norwegian waters that is

presently being offered. This is where Keiko could use our help, and here

is the first thing you can do:

 

1. Write a letter to Norway thanking the government and people for

welcoming Keiko and supporting the efforts to keep him free. Go to

http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/norway1.htm and locate a Norwegian

embassy or consulate in your country. If this doesnt work, go to

http://www.google.com . Do a search for Norway embassy <country> to

find listings that are appropriate for you. Phone or fax your thanks to

Norway

for protecting Keiko. Remember that phoning or faxing gets more attention

than an email, so please take the time.

 

You can also send a message directly to the government of Norway. The

Ministry of Environment has a message board at

http://odin.dep.no/md/global/kontakt/index-b-n-a.jsp. The Ministry of

Fisheries can be reached via email postmottak or phone +47 22 24

90 90 or fax +47 22 24 95 85.

 

 

The additional concern is that NMFS has not totally dismissed the Miami

Seaquarium bid. The language of the letter from NMFS (Gene Nitta, Acting

Chief, Permits Division) is disturbing. He does not acknowledge that

Keiko is already legally owned by the Free Willy Keiko Foundation (FWKF),

is already the subject of a permit issued by NMFS, and is under the control

of

The Humane Society of the US and the FWKF with the concurrence of the

government of Norway. Rather, NMFS says the application you have

submitted is premature at this time and in the absence of any indication

that

the Norwegian government is willing to entertain proposals to capture Keiko,

NOAA Fisheries is unable to adequately evaluate an application for a permit

to import the whale. This is very dodgy language and clearly indicates

that NMFS would be more than willing to entertain proposals to slam Keiko

back into a tank, provided only that Norway agrees to consider that as an

option.

 

In our view, Keikos position is still tenuous, so we are asking you to

also:

 

2. Write to NMFS expressing support for Keiko and requesting that NMFS

recognize that Keiko is already under the legal control of the HSUS and the

FWKF. Here is Gene Nittas contact info: email gene.nitta phone

301-713-2289 , fax 301-713-0376.

 

Please remember that what happens with Keiko affects the lives of all the

captives we care so deeply about. So please, take a few moments of your

time and help Keiko NOW.

 

As ever, we send our best wishes and THANKS to you all,

 

 

 

 

 

 

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