automoderated, bloggers, Bureaucrats, Check users, emailconfirmed, Interface administrators, interviewers, moderator, news, nuke, Push subscription managers, quiz, Suppressors, Administrators, video
944
edits
Lolita - orca: Difference between revisions
→See also
No edit summary |
WikiAnimal (talk | contribs) |
||
| (15 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox animal|name=Lolita|gender=Female|capture_location=Penn Cove|capture_date=August 8, 1970|capture_age=Approx. 3|pod=L-pod|death_date=August 18, 2023|death_place=Miami Seaquarium|death_cause= | {{Infobox animal|name=Lolita|gender=Female|capture_location=Penn Cove|capture_date=August 8, 1970|capture_age=Approx. 3|pod=L-pod|death_date=August 18, 2023|death_place=Miami Seaquarium|death_cause=Kidney failure|death_age=57|image=Miamiseaquariumlolita.jpg}} | ||
'''Lolita''' (Tokitae) was a | '''Lolita''' (Tokitae) was a 57 year-old female orca who was captive at the Miami Seaquarium since her capture in 1970. She was captured in the Salish Sea when she was approximately 3 years old. | ||
== Capture == | == Capture == | ||
Main article: [[Penn Cove orca captures]] | |||
On August 8, 1970, around 80 orcas from the Southern Resident population were captured as part of the infamous [[Penn Cove orca captures|Penn Cove captures]]. Out of the captured orcas seven are taken and sold to marine parks. | |||
Former diver John Crowe, who appears in the documentary [[Blackfish - film|Blackfish]], was part of the capture team at the time. He told of how, when the captures were over, there were several dead orcas in the nets. He and two other crew members were then ordered to cut the orcas open, fill their bellies with rocks, tie anchors to their tails and sink them. | |||
When the bodies of some of the orcas washed ashore some months later, there was a huge public outcry of people concerned with the welfare of the animals as well as the impact of captures on wild orcas. This prompted the government to pass the [[Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972|Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972]] which protected wild orca from being harassed or killed, and requiring whalers to apply for special permits in order to capture orcas. | When the bodies of some of the orcas washed ashore some months later, there was a huge public outcry of people concerned with the welfare of the animals as well as the impact of captures on wild orcas. This prompted the government to pass the [[Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972|Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972]] which protected wild orca from being harassed or killed, and requiring whalers to apply for special permits in order to capture orcas. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 22: | ||
When Lolita became sexually mature, she and [[Hugo - orca|Hugo]] reportedly mated many times, including during shows. Despite Lolita apparently becoming pregnant several times, she never delivered any live offspring. | When Lolita became sexually mature, she and [[Hugo - orca|Hugo]] reportedly mated many times, including during shows. Despite Lolita apparently becoming pregnant several times, she never delivered any live offspring. | ||
On March 4, 1980, [[Hugo - orca|Hugo]] died from a | On March 4, 1980, [[Hugo - orca|Hugo]] died from a brain aneurysm as a result of his habit of repeatedly slamming himself against the tank walls. His body was removed from the tank and sent to the Miami Dade Dump while Lolita was left on her own. | ||
Since then, Lolita has only been in the company of smaller species of dolphin; she has not seen another orca since [[Hugo - orca|Hugo’s]] death. | Since then, Lolita has only been in the company of smaller species of dolphin; she has not seen another orca since [[Hugo - orca|Hugo’s]] death. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 33: | ||
On February 4, 2015, NOAA announced that Lolita would be included under the ESA listing of the Southern Residents. However, they stated that this would not impact her residence at the Miami Seaquarium, and any future plans to move or release Lolita would require a permit from NOAA Fisheries and rigorous scientific review. They also expressed concern over the possibility of disease transmission, the ability for her to adequately learn to forage for food, social integration skills, as well as any behavioral patterns that she has developed in captivity that could impact wild orcas. | On February 4, 2015, NOAA announced that Lolita would be included under the ESA listing of the Southern Residents. However, they stated that this would not impact her residence at the Miami Seaquarium, and any future plans to move or release Lolita would require a permit from NOAA Fisheries and rigorous scientific review. They also expressed concern over the possibility of disease transmission, the ability for her to adequately learn to forage for food, social integration skills, as well as any behavioral patterns that she has developed in captivity that could impact wild orcas. | ||
During the autumn of 2021, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an inspection report for Miami Seaquarium, which revealed that Palace Entertainment's animal management practices were significantly below the minimum standards mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The report highlighted several ways in which the facility was not meeting the required standards, including training Toki to perform behaviors that resulted in injuries. The most concerning aspect of the inspection was the observation that the caretaking team was not following the instructions of the attending veterinarian, who plays a critical role in ensuring that minimum animal care standards are met. Additionally, several practices, such as keeping incompatible animals together, have led to the death of dolphins and sea lions. As a result of this disappointing inspection report, officials from Miami-Dade County, including the mayor, became involved in supervising the facility's operations. | During the autumn of 2021, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an inspection report for Miami Seaquarium, which revealed that Palace Entertainment's animal management practices were significantly below the minimum standards mandated by the [[Animal Welfare Act]] (AWA). The report highlighted several ways in which the facility was not meeting the required standards, including training Toki to perform behaviors that resulted in injuries. The most concerning aspect of the inspection was the observation that the caretaking team was not following the instructions of the attending veterinarian, who plays a critical role in ensuring that minimum animal care standards are met. Additionally, several practices, such as keeping incompatible animals together, have led to the death of dolphins and sea lions. As a result of this disappointing inspection report, officials from Miami-Dade County, including the mayor, became involved in supervising the facility's operations. | ||
In 2022, ownership of the marine theme park was transferred to MS Leisure, the US branch of The Dolphin Company, which is headquartered in Mexico. In March of the same year, [[Miami Seaquarium]] was granted a new exhibitor's license by APHIS under the AWA. From the outset, MS Leisure made it evident that it had no intention of retaining Lolita. | In 2022, ownership of the marine theme park was transferred to MS Leisure, the US branch of The Dolphin Company, which is headquartered in Mexico. In March of the same year, [[Miami Seaquarium]] was granted a new exhibitor's license by APHIS under the AWA. From the outset, MS Leisure made it evident that it had no intention of retaining Lolita. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 39: | ||
On March 30th, 2023, it was announced by the [[Miami Seaquarium]] and its new owner, The Dolphin Company, that Lolita will be sent back to her place of origin in the Pacific Northwest, along with her pacific white-sided dolphin companion, Li'i. This decision was made with the collaboration of Miami-Dade County, the nonprofit organization Friends of Lolita, and Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts and a philanthropist. A sea pen in the Pacific Northwest will be used to acclimate and transport the animals, with the entire process estimated to take between 18-24 months and cost approximately $15-20 million, which will mostly be funded by Irsay.<ref>https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article273738455.html</ref> | On March 30th, 2023, it was announced by the [[Miami Seaquarium]] and its new owner, The Dolphin Company, that Lolita will be sent back to her place of origin in the Pacific Northwest, along with her pacific white-sided dolphin companion, Li'i. This decision was made with the collaboration of Miami-Dade County, the nonprofit organization Friends of Lolita, and Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts and a philanthropist. A sea pen in the Pacific Northwest will be used to acclimate and transport the animals, with the entire process estimated to take between 18-24 months and cost approximately $15-20 million, which will mostly be funded by Irsay.<ref>https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article273738455.html</ref> | ||
Lolita died on August 18, 2023 at the Miami Seaquarium. She exhibited signs of discomfort before her death, | == Death == | ||
Lolita died on August 18, 2023 at the Miami Seaquarium and her body was transported to the University of Georgia for a necropsy to confirm the cause of death. She exhibited signs of discomfort before her death, and it was believed to be due to a renal condition.<ref>[https://www.theanimalreader.com/2023/08/19/news-orca-lolita-dies-florida/ Orca Lolita dies after 50 years in captivity in Florida] The Animal Reader</ref> | |||
According to NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency that oversees the public display of marine mammals, Tokitae’s official cause of death was kidney failure. This was based on information provided by the [[Miami Seaquarium]], which performed a necropsy on Tokitae shortly after her death. However, the Seaquarium did not release any details or results of the necropsy to the public or to NOAA Fisheries. The necropsy itself was opposed by the Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe that considered Tokitae a family member and had been campaigning for her return to her home waters.<ref name=":0">[https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/noaa-lists-kidney-failure-as-tokitaes-official-cause-of-death NOAA Lists Kidney Failure as Tokitae's Official Cause of Death] Fox 13</ref> | |||
== Legacy == | |||
Tokitae’s death marked the end of an era for the Southern Resident orcas, who lost one of their oldest and most iconic members. Her story also raised public awareness and concern for the plight of captive and wild orcas. Tokitae’s ashes were returned to her native waters by the Lummi Nation in a private ceremony.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
==Other orcas captured at Penn Cove August 8, 1970== | ==Other orcas captured at Penn Cove August 8, 1970== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 57: | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Blog:Rest In Peace Tokitae]] | |||
* [[Lolita Slave to Entertainment - film]] | * [[Lolita Slave to Entertainment - film]] | ||
* [[Library:OrcaStories from Baby Wild Films Presents The Killer Whale People (video)]] | |||
* [[Penn Cove orca captures]] | * [[Penn Cove orca captures]] | ||
* [[List of living captive orcas]] | * [[List of living captive orcas]] | ||