No one wants to be kept in a smaller enclosure, away from the freedom of the open world.
We all want to be free. To be able to go where we want to, or need to, without barriers holding us back. This is also true for more than just humans – it also stands true for animals, of all kinds.
Over half a century since she was captured in the Pacific Ocean near Puget Sound, Lolita the Orca will finally be able to return to her home waters. Lolita was captured in Penn Cove off the coast of Washington State in 1970 when she was roughly 4-years-old. She is believed to be the oldest orca in captivity.
The Miami Seaquarium announced its plans to move Lolita back to her original home in the Pacific Northwest during a press conference on March 30, in partnership with nonprofit group Friends of Lolita and philanthropist Jim Irsay, the owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
This decision comes after years of mounting pressure from animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), as well as from the Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe that considers orcas sacred and has been advocating for Lolita’s release.
Lolita the orca with one of her trainers. AP photo
Although Irsay did not disclose the exact cost of the relocation, he referred to it as a “big number.” He expressed his excitement about being part of Lolita’s journey, citing his childhood love for whales and his admiration for their power and gentleness.
She’s lived this long to have this opportunity and my only mission…is to help this whale to get free,” Irsay told NPR.
However, there are still many obstacles to overcome before Lolita can be released back into the wild. One of the main challenges is the logistics of transporting a 7,000-pound whale from Florida to Washington State. Another concern is preparing Lolita, who is now 57 years old and has spent over 50 years in captivity, to live in the wild again. Lolita’s lack of hunting and communication skills, as well as her potential health issues, pose additional challenges that need to be addressed before her release.
Raquel Regalado, a Miami-Dade Commissioner and advocate for Lolita, explained, “If she is healthy enough to be transported, the issue is her skill set…She doesn’t know how to catch or hunt. We’re not really sure if she can communicate with other whales because she’s been alone. Now we kind of have to retrain her.”
Lolita the orca with one of her trainers. AP photo
The team planning Lolita’s relocation may use similar methods to how they moved Keiko, the orca from the movie “Free Willy.” Keiko was successfully released into the wild, using a U.S. cargo plane, after living in captivity for many years.
Lolita’s current living conditions at the Miami Seaquarium have also been a cause for concern. In March 2022, the seaquarium announced that Lolita, who had fallen ill, would no longer be put on display for shows in the whale stadium. An assessment by two independent veterinarians in June 2022 found that Lolita’s condition had improved, but she still lives in a relatively small tank that has been closed to visitors until repairs are made.
Despite the challenges ahead, animal rights activists are hopeful that Lolita’s return to her home waters will set a precedent for other marine parks to follow.
Jared Goodman, the PETA Foundation’s vice president and general counsel for animal law, said, “If Lolita is finally returned to her home waters, there will be cheers from around the world…[it] will offer her long-awaited relief after five miserable decades in a cramped tank and send a clear signal to other parks that the days of confining highly intelligent, far-ranging marine mammals to dismal prisons are done and dusted.”
Watch below for the amazing story of this majestic orca gaining freedom.
Sources: NPR | Popular Science
