An Orca named Lolita

The other day I posted Part 8 on The Penn Cove captures. Today is the 39th anniversary of that day. 39 years that Lolita has been in captivity, and 39 years since the others were captured and 5 were killed in the process. Of the five, four were babies who were ripped away from their mothers. Witnesses who were there at the time were powerless to do anything as the capture team was armed with guns to keep them away. The witnesses say to this day they can hear the screams of the orca mother and babies as they tried to reach each other and could not. I know there is a big walk planned for Miami today to protest Lolita's continued captivity. I only wish I could be with them, but I am there in spirit.

This morning while watching "A Lion named Christian" on Animal Planet, I suddenly realized the correlation between Christian and Lolita. The difference is that Ace and John did an unselfish act and allowed Christian to go free. Arthur Hertz, owner of the Miami Seaquarium, will not let Lolita go free. Letting go is hard, but it's time to let her go, Arthur. In fact, it's long past due. Lolita has been in captivity for 39 years today. She needs to be free to be with her family and swim in the waters where she was born. 

An Orca named Lolita - Part 8 - The Penn Cove captures

An Orca named Lolita - Part 9 - A Lion named Christian

An Orca Named Lolita

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on Lolita, the orca at the Miami Seaquarium. I received such a response that I had to keep writing. Something inside me is pushing me on to tell her story to the world. I just uploaded Part 7 of An Orca name Lolita.

Lolita was one of the orcas captured on August 8, 1970 in Penn Cove on Whidbey Island, WA. She was sold to the Miami Seaquarium where she has been held captive since that time. She is housed in a tank that is illegal according to the Animal Welfare Act, but nothing has been done to get her out of there.

Orcas are social creatures and live in pods. Lolita has not seen another orca since 1980 when her companion orca, Hugo, died.  Hugo developed a brain aneurism after banging his head repeatedly against the walls of the tank in an effort to get out.  In essence, he committed suicide. 

Orca Network had tried for years to get Lolita out of there. What is it going to take to get this accomplished?  The Center for Whale Research has devised a total plan for her rehabilitation and reintroduction back to her pod. For those who want to compare her to Keiko, please go read Part 7 where I address the differences. 

How You Can Help!

Write to APHIS and ask why this has been allowed to go on for so long and then ask them when they are doing to do something about it!  

Write to: Secretary Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture

USDA/APHIS/AC

4700 River Road, Unit 84

Riverdale, MD 20737-1234

Then write to President Obama and ask him why APHIS is not doing their job and how long he’s going to allow this travesty to continue.

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC  20500

Make your voice heard! It is time for Lolita to be retired and for her to come home.