Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
The Miami SeaQuarium is home to the smallest orca tank in the world, which contains one 20 foot orca and between four and five Pacific White Sided dolphins.
I think that the Miami SeaQuarium is an atrocious breach of animal welfare and I know that it is violation of federal law under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which states that a tank housing a killer whale must be at least 40 feet in diameter. Their orca bowl is 35 feet in diameter.
Additionally, Lolita was left in her bowl, uncovered and unprotected, during hurricane Irma. Had the hurricane followed its projected course, she would likely have been injured and possibly killed with shrapnel.
I think that the ideal next step for Lolita, Tokitae, or Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut, (all refer to the same whale) the name given to her by the Lummi Tribe of Washington, is retirement in the waters of her birth, in a cove off of Orcas Island, Washington. To read more about Lolita's retirement, click the button below.
Furthermore, the Miami SeaQuarium has kept Lolita in isolation from her own species since 1980. Although not an ideal situation, I would strongly advocate for Lolita to be moved to SeaWorld Orlando, the closest park to her. I think that this would improve her quality of life, though Katina may be an unpredictable variable in this hypothetical situation.
Miami SeaQuarium, Miami Florida, USA
Lolita/Tokitae/Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut
Statistics
Captured: August 8th, 1970
Mother (wild): L-25 Ocean Sun
Sex: Female
Age: 55
Weight: 7,500 lbs, 3,400 kilos
Length: 20 ft, 6 m
Breed: 100% Southern Resident
About Lolita
Lolita is one of the oldest whales in captivity, and has lived at the Miami SeaQuarium since 1970, when she was captured. Lolita has lived alone since 1980, when her tankmate, Hugo, died of a brain bleed. Based on photographs, researchers think that Lolita's mother is a 90+ year-old Southern Resident named L-25 Ocean Sun. Lolita's tank does not meet federal regulations and is in dire need of renovations, which have been proposed over the years, but never done. Howard Garrett and others at Orca Network have put together something called the Free Lolita project, or Tokitae, as she's known to nor'westers. The project, which you can read more about on the Orca Network's website, is extremely detailed, and lays out plans for Lolita to retire in a cove in Eastsound, WA.
Lolita's Lummi Nation name is Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut.
To me, there is something eerily familiar about Lolita. The way she looks, her markings, the way she swims; it all reminds me of her home clan. I know a lot about the Southern Residents, and I know that she still belongs to them. The chances of Lolita successfully reuniting with L pod are slim to none. But I believe in Tokitae.
On , December 11th, 2021, a 28 year old Pacific White Sided Dolphin named Catalina died from blunt force trauma caused by an aggressive attack by Lolita. On December 10th or 11th (the record remains unclear) 2021, Catalina was slammed against a wall by Lolita. Her injuries were severe but unknown, and she was still alive. Sometime on December 10th or 11th, Catalina was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando for emergency veterinary treatment, but she died of her injuries.
Lolita isn't to blame for Catalina's death. She has acted aggressively towards humans and dolphins before, and it was only a matter of time before a life was lost. She is suffering and in urgent need of help. As for Catalina, her blood is firmly on the hands of SeaWorld, who sent her to the SeaQuarium in 2018, knowing that their facility was not up to USDA standards for tank size. I wish things could have been different for her, and I hope that things can be different for Lolita, too.
In 2022 and 2023, Lolita has received monthly checkups from a third party veterinarian. Her health remains fairly stable.
Aggressive Incidents & other injuries
Early in her captivity, Lolita and her tankmate Hugo would gang up on trainers, both lunging at the same time. The two also attacked a trainer at the park, tearing his wetsuit and giving him a laceration on his arm. In 2012, Lolita was caught on video snapping at a park visitor who was filming over the edge of her tank.
Lolita attacked and caused fatal injuries to a PWSD named Catalina living in her tank (more info above).