About
Animal Sciences & Welfare
Articles by Mark
Activity
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Mark & Todd from The Animal Welfare App by OERCA are at the Regional Aquatics Workshop Conference showing our latest software improvements - and…
Mark & Todd from The Animal Welfare App by OERCA are at the Regional Aquatics Workshop Conference showing our latest software improvements - and…
Liked by Mark Simmons
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"Killing Keiko: The True Story of Free Willy's Return to the Wild" went out of print in 2018. However, due to recent events and a high number of…
"Killing Keiko: The True Story of Free Willy's Return to the Wild" went out of print in 2018. However, due to recent events and a high number of…
Shared by Mark Simmons
Experience
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Education
Publications
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Killing Keiko, The True Story of Free Willy's Return to the Wild
Callinectes Press
See publicationIn 1978, a young killer whale “Keiko” was collected off the east coast of Iceland and spent the next 18 years in human care. At Reino Aventura Park in Mexico, his home was not conducive to good health, and over time his condition deteriorated. In 1993, Keiko became the star of Free Willy, a Warner Bros. blockbuster movie, that enchanted the public and led children and adults to believe that a whale, long-held in the care of man, could successfully make its way in the wild.
Animal rights…In 1978, a young killer whale “Keiko” was collected off the east coast of Iceland and spent the next 18 years in human care. At Reino Aventura Park in Mexico, his home was not conducive to good health, and over time his condition deteriorated. In 1993, Keiko became the star of Free Willy, a Warner Bros. blockbuster movie, that enchanted the public and led children and adults to believe that a whale, long-held in the care of man, could successfully make its way in the wild.
Animal rights organizations lobbied for a real-life release program for Keiko, similar to his fictitious counterpart, and millions of dollars were raised to return the orca back to his home waters.
Author Mark Simmons was leader of the team of animal behaviorists brought to Iceland as part of the release project. But the program was doomed to failure from the start; plagued by hidden agendas and an organization unable to recognize that Keiko needed to learn to be wild before any chance at survival could exist.
Honors & Awards
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Engage Award
Animal Behavior Management Alliance
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Impact Award
Animal Behavior Management Alliance
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2nd Place People's Choice Award
International Marine Animal Trainer's Association
More activity by Mark
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“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
Liked by Mark Simmons
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As chair of the selection committee, I'm so pleased that we are able to award the inaugural Gregory D. Bossart One Health Scholarship to a deserving…
As chair of the selection committee, I'm so pleased that we are able to award the inaugural Gregory D. Bossart One Health Scholarship to a deserving…
Liked by Mark Simmons
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Check out the video to see what our clients say about us! Want to know more about online coaching with us? Schedule your time with Zoospensefull by…
Check out the video to see what our clients say about us! Want to know more about online coaching with us? Schedule your time with Zoospensefull by…
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