Orcas are highly intelligent, social animals who normally spend their whole lives traveling with their family. Lolita was taken from her family during a violent roundup off the coast of Washington state in 1970 and hasn’t seen another animal of her species since 1980. Her tank is the smallest whale tank in North America and violates Animal Welfare Act standards, yet it has not been upgraded. There is no cover or shade over her tank so she is exposed to the intense Florida sun and inclement weather every single day.
Lolita was recently classified as “endangered” as she is a member of the protected Southern Resident Killer Whale community of Washington state. There is also a lawsuit currently pending against the USDA for the repeated questionable approval of the Miami Seaquarium’s federal license despite it’s numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
As the new owner’s of the Miami Seaquarium, Palace Entertainment has the ability to retire Lolita after 45 years of service to the Miami Seaquarium. There is a safe and comprehensive retirement plan in place created by Howard Garrett of the Orca Network and marine mammal experts to relocate Lolita to a seapen in her home waters of Washington state (Read Lolita’s full retirement proposal here: [ Ссылка ]).
Lolita is an excellent candidate for retirement because she is physically strong, healthy and young enough to handle a transition. Female orcas have a life expectancy similar to that of humans, meaning that 49 year old Lolita has up to another 50 years of life ahead of her. We want to see Lolita live out the next half of her life with her family, swimming free like an orca normally would. We don’t think Lolita should have to perform for crowds 365 days a year until the day she dies to make money for Palace Entertainment. After 45 years of work she has earned her right to retire, and Palace Entertainment has the power to make that happen.
Lolita’s retirement plan is straightforward and safe. Miami Seaquarium staff familiar to Lolita would help prepare her for transport back to Washington state. Once there she would be lowered by crane into a floating seapen which would then be slowly towed to a protected cove in her home waters. She will be fed her usual diet and medically cared for and monitored 24/7. Once fully adapted and capable she can be released to her family or can choose to stay in the seapen with human care indefinitely. ~ [ Ссылка ]
Please watch Documentary 'The Dark History of Killer Whale Captures': [ Ссылка ] A chronological documentary ranging from the 60s to present briefly describes kidnapping of orcas from their natural habitat. A more detailed is the information about capturing of orcas in Russia, the only country where it’s currently practiced.
