The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995                TAG: 9507200040
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR AILING STAR OF ``WILLY''

KEIKO, THE real-life Willy, is not on screen in ``Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home.'' He languishes in a too-small tank without fresh seawater at a facility in Mexico. Although he is afflicted with a skin disease that might be contagious to other whales, there are plans to have him transported to the United States and eventually returned to the wild.

Massive international efforts are under way to raise $10 million for the project. If successful, it would be the first time a captive orca whale has been rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

Keiko's story is a good deal more dramatic than anything in either of the ``Free Willy'' movies. Born about 16 years ago in the waters off the southeastern coast of Iceland, he was captured when he was between 12 and 24 months old.

He performed for audiences at Marineland in Ontario, Canada, until 1985, when he was sold to Reino Aventura in Mexico City.

After his appearance in the 1993 movie ``Free Willy,'' Keiko received international attention over his plight.

Presently under construction at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Ore., is a 2 million-gallon pool designed to be Keiko's new home. If all goes according to plan, he will be flown from Mexico to Oregon in December.

Dr. Lanny Cornell, who will direct the veterinary-care program in Oregon, claims that the risk in moving the whale is minor but that the risks in retraining him to survive in the wild are more tricky.

``We won't really know how well he can adjust until after the move, but a strong male orca of his age should have an excellent chance to survive in the wild - if we can overcome all his problems,'' said Cornell.

Keiko's skin condition has to be cured because it could be contagious to other whales. He also has to be given an improved diet in order to put on weight. He will be fed 300 pounds of fish daily.

Research is under way to identify Keiko's orca family off the coast of Iceland and to eventually release him there.

Two million dollars in funds have been contributed to the nonprofit Free Willy Foundation by Warner Bros. Pictures. An additional $2 million was contributed by the Craig and Wendy McCaw Foundation in Seattle. Six million dollars in donations from the public are being sought.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made to the foundation at 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, Calif., 94133. The foundation can be reached by phone at 1 (415) 788-3666. by CNB