When Sea World's Brad Andrews says that Keiko won't like the cold and dark North Atlantic winters, that is a projection of human preference. Orcas are perfectly adapted to these conditions. Unlike the great whales, which may migrate thousands of miles in a season, most orca pods have a home territory of just a few hundred miles. Icelandic killer whales don't stray even as close as Norway. For their part, the Foundation staff tries hard not to cross the line from empathy to over-interpretation.
Happiness is . . .
In the end, it is hard to imagine that Keiko has not been progressively happier , not just physically healthier, since he left Mexico. It's harder still to believe that he will not thoroughly enjoy whatever further measure of freedom he ultimately achieves. I see a little shred of blue sky over Eldfell's red, steaming cone. Time to go. As Icelanders say, Takk fyrir .