Killing Keiko by Mark A. Simmons

Author:Mark A. Simmons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Callinectes Press
Published: 2014-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Boy in a Bubble

Sadly, “I told you so” turned out to be the flavor of the first week of Keiko’s access to the bay. We saw a complete setback from every expectation (or wishful desire) as a further set of complications reared its ugly head.

Keiko made no bones about his preference for the old familiar bay pen over that of his new playground. In the first few days of bay operations, he would only leave the pen at our behest. Given the freedom of choice, he would nest himself in the confines of the north pool, the innermost sanctuary of the bay pen. Never mind the open gateway and wide open expanse of the bay there for the taking. Repeating much of the structured conditioning of his first separation to the medical pool, we leveraged every possible tool at our disposal to encourage Keiko’s voluntary exploration of his new digs, this time without forcing the issue.

Yet one more trait that challenged every notion of survival, Keiko was quick to shut down in the face of repeated failure. There was no doubt in my mind that the initial process of exposure to the bay had cost us dearly. At the heart of the matter, the process had demonstrated how Keiko adapted to change. We wanted a whale that would eagerly dive into new environments, chomp at the bit, seek out fresh and undiscovered territory and show extreme curiosity toward other living things (apart from humans). Instead, what we had was a withdrawn, neurotic introvert; dependent on our direction at every turn, void of even a spark of life at the onset of new challenge. Not what one would expect from a whale called “killer.”

The best we could hope for was to set the stage, pique his interest in the bay, lie in wait and insure that nothing hindered each tentative step forward. Then, taking advantage where only a fingerhold existed, we provided familiar reward for each ventured and voluntary act that resembled the whale we envisioned for release. It was excruciatingly slow going at first. But the tenants of learning reign supreme. For each meticulous step forward, when all the elements are combined unfailingly, behavior will follow the path well laid.

By the third day of access, we were just beginning to see the fruits of our tedious watchful labor. Following sessions where we asked Keiko to the outside platform, he began to linger, whereas prior sessions had ended with his immediate return to the pen. Other times he would venture out of the pen on his own, making a brief appearance in the bay. The appearances were hardly worthy of report, but enough with which we could wield our trade: consequences that revived interest, shoring up his confidence and boosting repeat and prolonged performances.

Our rally was short-lived. On the fourth day, Keiko lost all interest in the world around him. Food held no value. In or out of his spartan accommodation, it didn’t matter where or how it was offered. Trainers, his broken and distanced family, stirred nothing in the whale.

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