Watch how Keiko, the orca star of the hit film Free Willy, became the first captive orca to be successfully returned to his ocean. From capture to stardom to rehabilitation, from seapen to daily outings with caretakers, experience how Keiko gained over 3000 lbs, mixed it up with wild orcas, and even exhibited physical signs of attempts to mate, all the while thriving in the waters of his birth. Streaming Worldwide on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/keikotheuntoldstory | Keiko: The Untold Story

In 1998, Keiko - the star of the film Free Willy - became the first orca to be released into the wild after a life spent in captivity. Dave Phillips was in charge of making it all happen. 🎧 https://bbc.in/3qg8HMs | BBC World Service

They thought Keiko would be happy if it was free. A while later they would discover the disastrous consequences. Free Willy in real life was not as beautiful as in the movie. And more than happiness, the event brought worry and sadness. When the most famous orca whale in Hollywood finally saw the ocean, it was too late. But desperate audiences pressured the studio for it to leave its tank. The end result was not what they were expecting. You can now also find us on Youtube: http://bit.ly/yt-thek