However, this practice has become increasingly unpopular among the public.
espite the implementation of numerous new laws and protections, many orcas continue to be held in captivity, even as activists strive to secure more humane conditions for them.
One particularly well-known captive orca is Lolita, who has been confined at the Miami Seaquarium since 1970. Animal activists have been working tirelessly to free her, alleging that she has endured mistreatment during her captivity.
Finally, after several decades, Lolita will be released back into her natural habitat.
Lolita, also known as Tokitae, is the second-oldest captive orca, believed to be 57 years old. She was captured in Washington’s Puget Sound in 1970.
She was acquired by the Miami Seaquarium and became their top attraction, performing shows for the public for many years.
Lolita was paired with a mate named Hugo, who tragically died from a brain aneurysm in 1980 after repeatedly ramming his head into the tank’s walls.
Animal activists have long been advocating for Lolita’s freedom, arguing that the tank she has been kept in is too small and that she deserves to be released.
“For 50 years, she has been unable to dive, confined to 20 feet of water despite being over 20 feet long,” stated Howard Garrett of the Orca Network to KOMO News.
In 2015, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Miami Seaquarium, and the hashtag #FreeLolita gained traction on Twitter. The Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest, has also called for her release back into the Puget Sound, her native waters.
In recent years, Lolita’s health has deteriorated, and last year the Miami Seaquarium announced that she would no longer be part of shows or visible to the public.
Finally, after over 50 years in captivity, an agreement has been reached to free Lolita.
According to Reuters, the Miami Seaquarium, now under the management of The Dolphin Company, has reached a binding agreement with the nonprofit organization Friends of Lolita to transfer her to an ocean habitat in the Pacific Northwest within two years.
Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, stated, “It has always been our commitment to prioritize the well-being of animals above all else. Finding a better future for Lolita was one of the motivations behind acquiring the Miami Seaquarium.”
The owners assure that Lolita is receiving round-the-clock veterinary care and that her “energy, appetite, and engagement in daily activities are becoming reasonably stable.”
This announcement has brought great joy to animal activists who have fought for Lolita’s freedom.
“If Lolita is finally returned to her home waters, there will be cheers from around the world, including from PETA, which has pursued several lawsuits on Lolita’s behalf and protested demanding her freedom for years,” said a statement from PETA, as reported by NBC Miami.
“We are happy to hear that our relative, Sk’aliCh’elh’tenaut (Toki’tae), will have the opportunity to return home,” expressed a spokesperson for the Lummi tribe to KOMO News. “She represents the story of all Native peoples who have experienced genocide and the detrimental policies that have been implemented to ‘kill the Indian and save the man.’ But more importantly, she represents our resilience, strength, and need for healing.”
Releasing animals from captivity is a delicate task, especially for a creature like Lolita, who has spent most of her life in captivity and is older than the majority of wild orcas.
However, Howard Garrett told KOMO that Lolita is unlikely to be released into the wild but will likely be placed in a closed-off
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