A whale advocate says the death of the famous

killer whale Keiko in Norway should not affect plans to relocate a

young killer whale from Canada to his home in Washington waters.

Fred Felleman of Orca Conservancy calls Keiko a "global

ambassador" and mourned his death. Millions of dollars and a

decade of work failed to coax Keiko, the long-captive star of the

"Free Willy" movies, back to the open sea.

The whale, who was 27,

died Friday after the sudden onset of pneumonia in the Taknes

fjord. But Felleman says the death should not dampen enthusiasm for

next spring's planned relocation of a young killer whale --

nicknamed Luna -- from waters off Vancouver Island to his home

waters in Washington state. Canada and the United States plan to

collaborate in an effort to move the young male from remote Nootka

Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island to his home waters.

Whale experts hope he will reunite with the "L" pod, his family.

Luna has been Canadian waters since he became separated from his

family more than two years ago.

He has grown increasingly

aggressive in his interaction with boats, posing risks to both

himself and boaters.