An Orca named Lolita - Part 3

July 25, 2:41 PMPuget Sound Marine Life ExaminerCarole May

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© Dan Piraro (Bizarro.com) - Used with permission
 

Lolita’s life today

On August 8, 2009 Lolita will have been held captive for 39 years. She has performed shows day after day after day.  She spends her days and nights alone in a tank at the Miami Seaquarium. If that wasn’t bad enough, the tank she is in is too small and illegal in size.

A bit about orcas

Orcas are very social beings. They live in a family structure called a pod. They are not solitary creatures. Lolita was taken from her family, L pod.  Her family is still here in the state of Washington. They are one of three southern resident pods of orcas who live in the Puget Sound region. They swim, hunt, eat, and play together. An orca stays with their family for life. The only two things that can take them away from their pods are capture and death.  In addition to being very social creatures, they are also very intelligent. An orca’s brain is five times larger than our own!  We can only imagine what goes through Lolita’s mind every day. 

Under Miami Seaquarium the sign says "Come Make Friends".
Just who is Lolita supposed to make friends with??
And what about her family?  L pod awaits her return!

The needs of orcas

Orcas swim on the average of 80-100 miles per day and can dive to depths of 500 feet, and possibly more.  One can only envision what it must be like for Lolita to have to spend her days in a tank that is only 35 feet and only 20 ft. deep. The law states that her tank must be at least 48 feet in length, so why isn’t this law being enforced? APHIS is NOT doing their job!

The Humane Society of the United States

From the website of The Humane Society of the United States – “The sea is to whales and dolphins much as the air is to birds—a three-dimensional environment, where they can move up and down and side to side. But whales and dolphins don't stop to perch. They never come to shore, as do seals and sea lions. Whales and dolphins are always swimming, even when they "sleep." They are "voluntary breathers," conscious of every breath they take. They are always aware, and always moving. Understanding this, it is difficult to imagine the tragedy of life in no more than a tiny swimming pool.”  

If the above is what the Humane Society truly believes, then why aren't they doing something about the conditions where Lolita is forced to live?  Why do we see the Humane Society on TV rescuing dogs and cats from owners who leave them out in the hot sun, when Lolita has no shade from the hot Florida sun, nor does she have any protection from hurricanes or other foul weather?  These questions need to be answered, and it’s about time we all starting writing letters and getting these issues addressed.

Where Lolita Belongs . . .back home!
©2008 Carole May

What YOU can do!  
Yes, there is something we can all do to help!

So what can you do?  You can help Lolita by writing letters. We need to flood the offices of the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Humane Society of the United States, your senators, representatives, and last, but not least, President Barack Obama.  Yes, I know the President is busy, but I also think he cares about the issues we care about. The more people who tell him that this is important, the more he will take notice. 

There is a sample letter for the US Dept. of Agriculture on the website of Orca Network. Click here and then scroll down. You can cut and paste if you wish.  Please note that the names have changed since the past election. The Secretary of Agriculture is now Secretary Tom Vilsack, and also send a copy to Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. The addresses, both email and snail mail, are below.  This is how YOU can help to make a change and help to get Lolita back to her family where she belongs.

Where to write to help Lolita!

United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Headquarters

Write to Secretary Tom Vilsack, and also send a copy to Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at:

USDA/APHIS/AC, 4700 River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234

E-mail: ace@aphis.usda.gov   Phone: (301) 734-7833  Fax: (301) 734-4978

Eastern Region

USDA/APHIS/AC, 920 Main Campus Drive Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606-5210

E-mail: aceast@aphis.usda.gov   Phone: (919) 855-7100  Fax: (919) 855-7123

Also write to the Humane Society and use their quote from above!

The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037

Phone: 202-452-1100

President Barack Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC  20500

For more info please read:

An Orca named Lolita