Daniel Alarcón

But it turned out that Oscar Porter, the director of Reino Aventura, wasn't opposed to the idea of giving him up. He had a whole park to run, and managing his most famous attraction had become an all-consuming headache. There were journalists and activists to deal with, Mexican television stars and singers calling to arrange private swims with Keiko...

But it turned out that Oscar Porter, the director of Reino Aventura, wasn't opposed to the idea of giving him up. He had a whole park to run, and managing his most famous attraction had become an all-consuming headache. There were journalists and activists to deal with, Mexican television stars and singers calling to arrange private swims with Keiko...

Porter told me he was spending three hours a day dealing with Keiko-related nonsense. Which is a lot, sure, but most worrying of all was what some of the outside veterinarians were saying. That Keiko might die soon. Porter really didn't want that to happen at Reno Aventura. So over the course of several months, Dave and Oscar Porter made a deal.

Porter told me he was spending three hours a day dealing with Keiko-related nonsense. Which is a lot, sure, but most worrying of all was what some of the outside veterinarians were saying. That Keiko might die soon. Porter really didn't want that to happen at Reno Aventura. So over the course of several months, Dave and Oscar Porter made a deal.

Reno Aventura agreed to donate Keiko to Dave's foundation for free.

Reno Aventura agreed to donate Keiko to Dave's foundation for free.

In February 1995, it was announced to the world that Keiko would be leaving Reino Aventura for his new temporary home at an aquarium on the Oregon coast in an enormous new tank with cold seawater. Dave laid out a vision for Keiko's future, invoking the plot to Free Willy 2, which would hit theaters a few months later.

In February 1995, it was announced to the world that Keiko would be leaving Reino Aventura for his new temporary home at an aquarium on the Oregon coast in an enormous new tank with cold seawater. Dave laid out a vision for Keiko's future, invoking the plot to Free Willy 2, which would hit theaters a few months later.

That was Dave's ultimate plan, even if the last part seemed improbable at best. For Keiko's trainer, Renata, and many of the staff that worked closely with Keiko, the decision to let him leave was heartbreaking, even if they knew it was the right one. Giving him up was a kind of noble, even maternal sacrifice. That's how Renata saw it, which of course didn't make it hurt any less.

That was Dave's ultimate plan, even if the last part seemed improbable at best. For Keiko's trainer, Renata, and many of the staff that worked closely with Keiko, the decision to let him leave was heartbreaking, even if they knew it was the right one. Giving him up was a kind of noble, even maternal sacrifice. That's how Renata saw it, which of course didn't make it hurt any less.

Goodbyes are like that, especially when you can't explain what the future holds. You feel guilty, like you're betraying a friend. And across Mexico, a lot of people were feeling this way. They wanted him to stay. They wished he could stay. But letting him go was a sacrifice they were willing to make because they loved him and they wanted what was best for him.

Goodbyes are like that, especially when you can't explain what the future holds. You feel guilty, like you're betraying a friend. And across Mexico, a lot of people were feeling this way. They wanted him to stay. They wished he could stay. But letting him go was a sacrifice they were willing to make because they loved him and they wanted what was best for him.

Which is why it was so offensive to Renata and many others I talked to to hear how the story was being told in the U.S. that Keiko was being saved from a terrible life in Mexico. Do you feel like there was an element of like, ah, Mexico, you know how things are down there?

Which is why it was so offensive to Renata and many others I talked to to hear how the story was being told in the U.S. that Keiko was being saved from a terrible life in Mexico. Do you feel like there was an element of like, ah, Mexico, you know how things are down there?

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

A few days before Keiko was scheduled to leave Mexico, the Reino Aventura staff threw him one last party, a kind of final spring break bash. Everyone was invited, current trainers, former staff, all of Keiko's friends, his extended human pod.

A few days before Keiko was scheduled to leave Mexico, the Reino Aventura staff threw him one last party, a kind of final spring break bash. Everyone was invited, current trainers, former staff, all of Keiko's friends, his extended human pod.

Wait a second. So you're telling me, Renata, that like 30 people got in the pool with Keiko at the same time to play?

Wait a second. So you're telling me, Renata, that like 30 people got in the pool with Keiko at the same time to play?