A failure? I think not!
People often ask me why Lolita should be freed since they consider the freeing of Keiko a failure. I cannot fathom why they consider it so, since Keiko enjoyed five years of freedom before he died. It’s true that he never found his pod, but that is because no one knew what pod he was from.
A failure? I think not!
Before his release, Keiko lived in Mexico in a small tank filled with 80 degree artificial saltwater. His skin was covered with lesions and he was grossly underweight.
He was taken to a rehabilitation facility at the Oregon Coast Aquarium where he felt the natural sea water for the first time in many years. He could feel the rhythms of the sea and experience the tides. He was re-taught how to fish and gained 1900 pounds. The lesions on his skin disappeared and after a little over two years, he is declared healthy and exhibiting the normal behaviors of an orca. The decision was made to release him back to the wild. Keiko was released and enjoyed five years of freedom in the sea. A failure? I think not! If you had to choose between five years of freedom in the sea, or a life of solitary confinement in a small cell, what would you choose?
The differences in Keiko and Lolita’s stories
Lolita’s story is different from Keiko’s. If you have been reading this series, you know that she is from L pod, which is one of the three Southern Resident Orca pods. She was taken from L pod during the Penn Cove captures on August 8, 1970. Her family is one of the three resident pods of Puget Sound and they return every year from May to September. L pod is known to go down to Monterrey, CA during the winter and always returns in the spring.
Lolita remembers the sounds of her pod
Another difference is that Lolita demonstrated that she still remembers the language of her pod. When a recording of L pod was played for her, she began to vocalize with it, responding in a positive way to what she heard.
Before being captured, she knew how to fish
Lolita was captured at the age of six. She had been taught how to fish and was doing so for many years before she was captured. With the memory that orcas have, that teaching could be refreshed and she would be able to fish again for herself and hopefully one day return to her pod.
Where and how to live? The choice would be hers
The choice, however, would be hers. Since she has had human companionship for 39 years, she may choose to stay with humans. If that is the case, she will be cared for lovingly by trained professionals for the rest of her life.
Her retirement is long past due. Whether she chooses the open sea or chooses to remain in a sea pen and be cared for will be up to her. But in the words of Erik Lacitis of the Seattle Times, “it’s time to tell the gawking tourists that the show is over”.
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Bring her home where she belongs!
Thanks to savelolita.com for image use
Comments
Good points, Carole. I think people don't realize that Keiko would have died much sooner than he did if he was left in captivity ~ he was one very sick whale when he was rescued.
People need to understand and appreciate that Lolita's current environment is toxic and detrimental to her health and well-being.
In essence, her situation is like confining a large dog to a crate that isn't big enough for him to stand up or turn around and never letting him out to run around and play. It wouldn't take long for the dog to get sick and die.
almost the exact same thing happened with keiko that would happen with lolita. the problem will be is that will lolita find her pod? the answer could be no. look what happened with keiko. he couldn't find his family at all. he tried. but it didn't work. i think lolita should be first rehabilitated. then test the freedom out like they did with keiko.
but first let people say goodbye to her before she departures.
Glenn, you might want to read some of my other articles. L pod is one of the three residents pods of Washington. They are here every year from May - October. It is quite easy to find them, and if you ever visit our state, you can go on a whale watch boat and see J, K, and L pods. If you go to OrcaLady.com you will see a number of photographs that I have taken of L pod.
The problem with Keiko is that no one KNEW what pod he was from. It was thought that he was from Iceland, but no one knew for sure. With Lolita, we not only know what pod she is from, we have a good idea of who her mother is and she is still alive, as are other members of her pod who were alive at the time of her capture. It is NOT the same situation, and don't let anyone tell you it is. That is why I wrote this article to point out the differences.
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