An Orca named Lolita - Part 4

July 30, 2:10 PMPuget Sound Marine Life ExaminerCarole May

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The Miami Seaquarium’s position on Lolita

When asked about releasing Lolita, Robert Rose of the Miami Seaquarium stated, “She has entertained and educated millions of children. We think letting her go would be an irresponsible act on our behalf”. 

Educated millions of children?

Educated millions of children? How? By performing tricks so that she can eat?

• Do they tell these children that orcas live with their families in pods and that removing them from the sea is like taking a child from its bed during the night so that it will never see its mother or family again?  
• Do they tell them that orcas stay with their mothers and their pods for life, and only two things can separate them from their pods – captivity or death?  Or that Lolita has been alone and not seen another orca since 1980 when Hugo died?
• And do they tell them that by putting an orca in a tank, the orca is no longer able to use its echolocation or hunt for food and thereby becomes sensory deprived?

Little J45 breaching - ©2009 Carole May
Taken from the shore of Lime Kiln Park, WA

Irresponsible

Irresponsible?  It was irresponsible of them to take her from her home and her family 39 years ago. The responsible thing to do would be to admit that they now realize they were wrong, and allow her to return to her family.  I wonder how Robert Rose would feel if someone kidnapped his children, sold them into slavery, and forced them to perform every day?  I’m willing to bet he’d move heaven and earth to get them back.

Want an education on the orcas?

For the best education on orcas, people need to see them where they live. The state of Washington is home to three pods of orcas known as the southern residents. Visitors can come to the Puget Sound area, and then choose whether to see the orcas from land or on the water. They can speak to any one of a number of certified marine naturalists who work in the parks and on whale watch boats and have their questions about the orcas answered by a qualified professional.  And they will see the orcas in their natural environment, be able to observe their behaviors,  and watch the mothers with their little ones.  

One of the most beautiful scenes I have ever witnessed occurred over this past Memorial Day weekend. I was standing on the shore of Lime Kiln Park (also known as Whale Watch Park).  One of the J pod mothers, J14 Samish, was teaching her little one, J45, how to breach.  She would breach and then it was as if she said "Now go practice your breaching".  Little J45 would jump into the air and come down with a splash. And then he'd do it again and again. You will NEVER see anything like that in a place like an aquarium.

It is time for the Miami Seaquarium to do the right and responsible thing and return Lolita to her home where she belongs.

  
Where Lolita Belongs!

 Read more about Lolita: