Background (Preamble): Lolita, whose real name is Tokitae, currently resides at the Miami Seaquarium. She was captured on August 8, 1970, at the age of about six, at Penn Cove off Whidbey Island, Washington. She is a member of L-Pod, specifically the L25 or L91 Matriline, and part of the Southern Resident Community of orcas, a population now listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
The Penn Cove Capture was one of the most brutal orca roundups in history. Seven young orcas were taken from their mothers in the capture, with as many as five orcas drowning in the nets including a mother who became entangled in the netting while attempting to free her calf. For three decades after that horrific event, orcas never returned to Penn Cove.
Whales in their natural habitat can live well into their 90s. In captivity, an orcas life expectancy is cut in half. Lolita now lives in the oldest and smallest killer whale tank in the United States. Had it not been grandfathered in, the facility would be in violation of current USDA/APHIS standards requiring it to be at least 48 feet in all directions. In fact, Lolitas home at Miami Seaquarium is only four times her size at its widest point. Lolita would have to circle it over 2,000 times to cover the same distance her family members travel in an average day in Puget Sound, about 100 miles.
Orcas remain with their families for life, but Lolita has not been allowed to see another orca since 1980. Yet, after nearly 40 years, Lolita has not forgotten the unique calls of her pod, and still uses them even in captivity. She only performs one show a week now. She waits in the tank everyday with no protection from the hot Florida sun. Lolita needs to be returned to her family NOW!
