Free Lolita
Posted April 19th, 2008 by dolphintouch32
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| Free Lolita Update #93 - More Lolita News |
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| News, Views, Events |
April 18, 2008 |
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In 1970 a capture team using speedboats and airplanes and lobbing explosives forced a group of female and young Southern Resident orcas into a narrow cove, where they corralled all 96 orcas. They chose the young ones to ship to marine parks around the world. One, first called Tokitae, was delivered to the Miami Seaquarium. She was given a new name, "Lolita," and against all odds she has survived these many years in a tiny tank that is illegal by the letter of the Animal Welfare Act. Lolita's longevity in a tank is extraordinary even by orca standards. All the other 44 captive Southern Resident orcas were dead by 1987. Studies have shown that orcas in captivity live far less than half their normal lifespan.
Working with others around the globe, we've made a lot of progress toward convincing people that it is simply wrong to confine large, family-bonded, long-lived and far-ranging whales to bathtub-sized tanks. The deeper problem all along has been to convince people that orcas are capable of returning to their home habitat, IF they are returned to their families. Orcas are much stronger and far more advanced and capable than is generally understood. Their strength is partly due to their cultural bonds and family membership, and the durability of those memories. By returning Lolita to her family she could regain the strength that comes from rebuilding those lifelong family bonds.
While people the world over now understand that captivity is cruel and deadly for orcas, we still need to convince the scientific community and the public that Lolita can safely return to her home and family, in order to convince the owner of the Seaquarium and other decision-makers that Lolita can and must be returned to her family and natural habitat.
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Contact Info
Free Lolita Update list
Howard Garrett
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Lolita's story on Seattle TV
Friday, April 18, 7:30pm
There will be a story about the capture of Lolita tonight, Friday at 7:30pm on KCTS Channel 9. It was filmed at the Captain Whidbey Inn, the scene of her capture, and includes some of the witnesses of the capture in Coupeville. It is the first story in the show so at 7:30 sharp. It airs again on Sunday morning at 10:30am.
Hosted by Enrique Cerna, here's the synopsis of the show:
Saving Lolita - Captured in the waters of Puget Sound, Lolita has spent the last 37 years performing at the Seaquarium in Miami. Now 40, Lolita is already well beyond the age at which most captive orcas die. One Whidbey Island man has been working for Lolita's release for more than a decade says time is running out. And he's getting support from some major Hollywood heavy hitters, including Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp and others who want to see Lolita swim free once more. But is this killer whale worth saving? And after four decades in captivity, is she even equipped to survive?
The answer to those two questions are Yes!, and Yes! For background, please have a look at:
and
Lolita is still amazingly healthy. Photo by Peter Pijpelink.
So much effort and activity, so much attention to Lolita, all of it raising important questions about her sad situation. Most of this coverage makes the statement that she deserves to return to her home, but seldom are the central points clearly stated that 1) she is fully competent to survive and thrive back in her native habitat, and 2) that there is no real risk involved in any phase of the proposal to retire her. These points need to be made because the park industry continually repeats the claims that she would not survive the transport or would be harmed by the waters she was raised in.
We will of course spread the news far and wide just as soon as there are definite steps made to start planning for her return to her home and family.
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Orca Network | 2403 North Bluff Rd. | Greenbank | WA | 98253
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