Daniel Alarcón

Honestly, it's a little bit mad, the emotion on people's faces, the palpable sense of loss. Dave says some people had to be peeled off Keiko's container as they tried to climb it. The procession just creeps along as best they can through the impossibly crowded late-night streets. A city, a country, saying goodbye to its beloved whale.

Honestly, it's a little bit mad, the emotion on people's faces, the palpable sense of loss. Dave says some people had to be peeled off Keiko's container as they tried to climb it. The procession just creeps along as best they can through the impossibly crowded late-night streets. A city, a country, saying goodbye to its beloved whale.

The UPS plane carrying Keiko to his new home leaves at around 5 in the morning, more than three hours behind schedule, just before a beautiful Mexican sunrise. Only Keiko's veterinarians fly with him. Renata and Dave fly alongside in another aircraft, close enough to see Keiko's plane from their window. Keiko no longer belonged to Reino Aventura, much less to Mexico.

The UPS plane carrying Keiko to his new home leaves at around 5 in the morning, more than three hours behind schedule, just before a beautiful Mexican sunrise. Only Keiko's veterinarians fly with him. Renata and Dave fly alongside in another aircraft, close enough to see Keiko's plane from their window. Keiko no longer belonged to Reino Aventura, much less to Mexico.

He belonged to the story being told about him, the uncertain, real-life sequel to the movie that had made him a star, only more far-fetched and with no happy ending assured.

He belonged to the story being told about him, the uncertain, real-life sequel to the movie that had made him a star, only more far-fetched and with no happy ending assured.

For the moment, no one knew. That's on the next episode of The Good Whale.

For the moment, no one knew. That's on the next episode of The Good Whale.

New York Times all access and audio subscribers can binge all episodes of The Good Whale right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just head to the link in our show notes and subscribe, or if you're already a subscriber to The Times, link your account. Also, sign up for our newsletter, where each week we'll be sharing photos and behind-the-scenes info on The Good Whale.

New York Times all access and audio subscribers can binge all episodes of The Good Whale right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just head to the link in our show notes and subscribe, or if you're already a subscriber to The Times, link your account. Also, sign up for our newsletter, where each week we'll be sharing photos and behind-the-scenes info on The Good Whale.

This week, we've got photos and links to video from Keiko's life at Reino Aventura, the place he called home for more than a decade. You should definitely check it out. The link to sign up is also in our show notes or go to nytimes.com slash serial newsletter. And there's a Spanish language version of this first episode that we produced for my other podcast, Radio Ambulante.

This week, we've got photos and links to video from Keiko's life at Reino Aventura, the place he called home for more than a decade. You should definitely check it out. The link to sign up is also in our show notes or go to nytimes.com slash serial newsletter. And there's a Spanish language version of this first episode that we produced for my other podcast, Radio Ambulante.

You can look for that at radioambulante.org. The Good Whale is written by me, Daniel Alarcón, and reported by me and Katie Mingle. The show is produced by Katie and Alyssa Shipp. Jen Guerra is our editor, additional editing from Julie Snyder and Ira Glass. Sound design, music supervision, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. The original score for The Good Whale comes from La Chica and Osman.

You can look for that at radioambulante.org. The Good Whale is written by me, Daniel Alarcón, and reported by me and Katie Mingle. The show is produced by Katie and Alyssa Shipp. Jen Guerra is our editor, additional editing from Julie Snyder and Ira Glass. Sound design, music supervision, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. The original score for The Good Whale comes from La Chica and Osman.

Our theme music is by Nick Thorburn and additional music from Matt McGinley. The song Las Golondrinas in today's episode was performed by Mariachi Hidalgo, NYC. It was produced and engineered by Dan Powell, Brad Fisher, and Pat McCusker. Research and fact-checking by Jane Ackerman, with help from Ben Phelan. Tracking direction by Elna Baker. Susan Wesling is our standards editor.

Our theme music is by Nick Thorburn and additional music from Matt McGinley. The song Las Golondrinas in today's episode was performed by Mariachi Hidalgo, NYC. It was produced and engineered by Dan Powell, Brad Fisher, and Pat McCusker. Research and fact-checking by Jane Ackerman, with help from Ben Phelan. Tracking direction by Elna Baker. Susan Wesling is our standards editor.

Legal review from Alameen Sumar and Simone Prokus. Carlos Lopez Estrada is a contributing editor on the series. The supervising producer for Serial Productions is Ndeye Chubu. Mac Miller is the executive assistant for Serial. Liz Davis-Moore is the senior operations manager.

Legal review from Alameen Sumar and Simone Prokus. Carlos Lopez Estrada is a contributing editor on the series. The supervising producer for Serial Productions is Ndeye Chubu. Mac Miller is the executive assistant for Serial. Liz Davis-Moore is the senior operations manager.

Special thanks to Lauren Schuller-Donner, Jenny Lou Tugend, Nina Litvak, Rob Friedman, Jose Solorzano, Kenneth Brower, Dalia Kozlowski, Pablo Arguelles, and Katie Fuchs. The Good Whale is from Serial Productions and the New York Times.

Special thanks to Lauren Schuller-Donner, Jenny Lou Tugend, Nina Litvak, Rob Friedman, Jose Solorzano, Kenneth Brower, Dalia Kozlowski, Pablo Arguelles, and Katie Fuchs. The Good Whale is from Serial Productions and the New York Times.