More than fifty years after being captured in the waters off the Pacific north-west, Tokitae the orca is at last free - a resounding victory for animal rights advocates and indigenous leaders across the globe who fought tirelessly for her release.
According to Plant Based News, Miami Seaquarium has signed a “formal and binding agreement” with activist group Friends of Lolita to grant freedom to its long-term captive orca Tokitae, also known as Lolita.
Friends of Lolita, a non-profit organization co-founded by environmentalist Pritam Singh, has been able to bring to life the dream of returning Lolita to an ocean sanctuary with the help of a generous contribution from philanthropist Jim Irsay, the owner & CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Irsay said of the news: “The story of Lolita the orca has been near and dear to my heart. I am proud—and enthusiastic—to play a role in finally returning Lolita to her native Pacific Northwest.”
The two will now cooperate to navigate 57-year-old Tokitae’s safe relocation to a sea pen in her home waters of Puget Sound. Here, she will be able to live in close proximity to other orcas, hopefully, some from her familial pod.
Captive orca Lolita is going home ?? https://t.co/ac9YkQtWsF
— Plant Based News (@PlantBasedNews) April 5, 2023
Tokitae spent decades performing at the Miami Seaquarium, where she went by the name Lolita. She lived in the smallest orca enclosure in North America, in a pool of water that made her skin infected and was fed fish that was occasionally rotten and led to intestinal issues.
Moreover, as animal welfare advocates argue, it is unethical to keep a wild animal like Tokitae in captivity for the entertainment of humans. They point out that orcas are highly intelligent creatures that form close social bonds with their family members and live in complex social structures.
In captivity, Tokitae has been separated from her family and forced to live in a small tank with no opportunities to engage in natural behaviors like hunting and exploring. There is no educational value in forcing a wild animal to live in a habitat where natural behaviors cannot be displayed.
A good news story indeed.
