Key dates in Keiko's life

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• 1982: Taken to Marineland in Ontario, Canada, where he is trained and performs publicly for the first time.

• 1985: Sold to Reino Aventura, a Mexico City amusement park.

• 1992: Featured in the title role of the Warner Bros. movie, "Free Willy."

• 1996: Transported to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport for better care.

• 1998: Flown to Iceland for possible re-entry into the wild.

• 2000: Fitted with a tracking device, Keiko begins to spend time away from human companions.

• 2002: On his first day out of the netted bay pen in the summer, Keiko leaves the tracking boat and begins spending time in the company of whales. Later in the year, he is able to come and go as he pleases.

• 2003: Keiko dies of pneumonia.

Source: Free Willy Keiko Foundation

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