Rally/march/paddle in West Seattle this Saturday to urge freedom for last captive Puget Sound orca

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Even as the number of Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Killer Whale population hovers at a dangerously low level, one of the group’s members remains thousands of miles away, captive in a tank. Tokitae is the last surviving SRKW from those captured decades ago; she has been at the Miami Seaquarium for 44 years, performing as “Lolita.” This Saturday from coast to coast, wildlife advocates will demonstrate in support of setting her free and returning her home to Puget Sound. Here in Seattle, the big gathering is a march for about a mile along Alki, starting at 1:15 pm Saturday (January 17th); meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) at 1 – more info in our calendar listing. (Photo via Wikimedia)

P.S. Thanks to Steve for the tip on this – you also can paddle along the route in support – that group will leave Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) at noon.

Sig Verano January 16, 2015 (8:56 am)

Lolita Could be in danger of predators & even could go hungry for a while, personally I think after 45 years of giving funny shows and getting good free food & care it should be left alone where it is. Also it is giving a lot of people especially Children the opportunity to get informed about something not easy to see unless it is in museums like this: So let’s concentrate our efforts on understanding why we have thousands of Innocent men and women sentenced to long prison terms in our Country without hope & how we can help.

flimflam January 16, 2015 (9:39 am)

” So let’s concentrate our efforts on understanding why we have thousands of Innocent men and women sentenced to long prison terms in our Country without hope & how we can help”

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I respectfully ask, what on earth are you talking about?

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44 years in captivity is enough. even if this majestic beast didn’t handle re-introduction well it would be better than doing tricks for tourists and the chiiiildren.

Free Tokitae January 16, 2015 (10:48 am)

There is a robust retirement plan in place for Lolita/Tokitae. You can see it (and other info about Lolita) here: http://www.orcanetwork.org/Main/index.php?categories_file=Retirement

I generally think it’s far more important to focus on populations and ecosystems rather than the plight of an individual animal, but I make an exception in Lolita’s case. She’s been kept in an illegally small enclosure, completely alone, for decades. Her mother and family still live in here in Puget Sound. Lolita still recognizes their calls.

She’s worked long enough. It’s time to bring her home to her family.

Enviromaven January 16, 2015 (10:54 am)

There is no such thing as “good free food and care” for captive cetaceans, and there’s a viable plan in place to re-introduce Lolita/Tokitae safely to PNW waters – where she belongs! “Funny shows?” What a disgusting and irresponsible way to inform and teach children about environmental stewardship.

miws January 16, 2015 (11:39 am)

So let’s concentrate our efforts on understanding why we have thousands of Innocent men and women sentenced to long prison terms in our Country without hope & how we can help.

Yes, there are many people wrongfully imprisoned, perhaps guilty of a “crime”, but given ridiculously long sentences compared to much greater crimes, and perhaps those greater crimes being committed by those with enough money and/or political influence, (often the same thing?), to see little, or no, significant punishment; there is definitely a discrepancy related to things such as Race, and Economic Status. To work to address and correct such is a very Noble Cause.

There are many “Noble Causes” out there, including one close to my heart; Homelessness, that may be equally important in raising awareness of, and fighting.

I fear that basically concentrating on just one of those Causes, could let the others slip further and further to where it would be increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to correct.

My personal preference, is for people to choose the Cause(s) most important to them, and work on those. Perhaps a natural balance could be achieved, that makes our Society, and our Planet better overall.

Mike

Enviromaven January 16, 2015 (1:02 pm)

Nicely put, Mike…as usual :) Social justice, homelessness, environmental issues – all deserve our attention. IMO, they have much in common.

BlairJ January 16, 2015 (2:25 pm)

Any human employee who had performed so well for so many years would be allowed to spend her final days relaxing and keeping in touch with her family. I wrote to the Miami Seaquarium almost a year ago asking that they not let her die at work. No response yet.

miws January 16, 2015 (2:31 pm)

Thanks for the kind words, Enviromaven. :-)

Mike

jorien January 16, 2015 (2:59 pm)

Lets refocus. A large endangered animal in a very small tank doing tricks for our entertainment.? We can still teach society without having a live animal. Risky to reintroduce YES.are we finding whales washing onto shore, why?! Well sort of unclear.lack of salmon which we are working on.warm waters etc etc.But shouldn’t she be given the opportunity with proper guidance and time like the pen in open waters? Just my 2 cents worth.thanks for listening toine.

Andrea January 16, 2015 (9:06 pm)

Please read Death at Sea World: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales. Along with the documentary movie, Blackfish, this book opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes at the parks that hold these beautiful, intelligent beings captive under deplorable conditions. A wild animal’s instincts do not just disappear over time. They will always be craving freedom.

anonyme January 17, 2015 (6:53 am)

Sig, there’s at least one good reason why Lolita should be free: she is more intelligent and has more social and emotional capacity than a certain poster. The only “education” provided by her captivity is the cold greed and ignorance of human beings.

Lolita (Tokitae) is NOT receiving “good care and free food”. She is confined in a bathtub so small it is illegal, and in solitary confinement (without companionship) – also illegal. If there were a Geneva Convention for non-human species, this would be considered torture.