The Miami Seaquarium plans on releasing an orca
The Miami Seaquarium Announcement of a Return of the Orca Lolita to the Northwest, and an Ambassador for the Whale Sanctuary Project in Washington State
A little over 50 years ago at the age of 4, she was captured on the Pacific coast. The orca, who is believed to be 57 years old, was allowed to retire from shows under an agreement with federal regulators.
At a news conference Thursday, the Miami Seaquarium said that they were going to relocate Toki to the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Seaquarium, a nonprofit, were part of the news conference.
“This is a very special day,” Eduardo Albor, CEO of the Dolphin Company, said during the news conference. It is amazing to see how many things you can achieve in one year when you take action.
Irsay said he was excited to be part of the journey. “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve loved whales, just loved whales because [of] the power, the greatness of them and how gentle they are.”
“Lolita will receive the highest quality care as the team works to make relocation possible in the next 18 to 24 months,” Miami Seaquarium said in a statement Thursday.
Over the last 10 years, animal rights groups have held demonstrations and sued to improve the conditions at the Seaquarium. Lummi Nation members in Seattle threatened to file a lawsuit for her release.
In 1970 it was taken from the ocean. The binding agreement was announced Thursday by officials from various parties who had been involved in a long-running dispute over where Lolita belonged.
Advocates said locations for a natural sea pen have been identified, including one in waters Lolita’s family still swims through, WPLG reported. Lolita’s 95-year-old mother is believed to still be alive.
The executive director of the Whale Sanctuary Project said that there was an opportunity for her to connect with her family. Over time, it’s possible to be physically and acoustically.
After decades of being fed by a person, the whale will be flown across the country and put in a sea pen in Washington state to be monitored and taught to fish.
“We’re here because we all care deeply about the health and well-being of this beautiful creature, and I’m very happy to be here for this historic announcement to begin the process to return Toki to her home waters,” the mayor said. Many have worked and hoped for this result for a long time. We will continue to do what is best for Toki because the most important thing is her long term well-being.
Albor recalled at the press conference that his commitment to Lolita began when he took his daughter to the seaquarium, and she became upset about the whale’s captivity.
The southern resident killer whale was added to the list by the federal government. The population was depleted between 1965 and 1975 because of captures for marine parks, the NOAA Fisheries said. The whales were added to the endangered species list around 2005.
