Lolita was just 4 when she was captured and put in a tiny tank, now 53 years later she's finally free
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA: Lolita, also known as Tokitae, who had been entertaining people while in captivity for years, passed away on Friday, August 18. A statement from Miami Seaquarium confirmed her death.
Once dubbed the "loneliest whale in the world," the orca whale was 57 at the time of her death. She was reportedly about to enjoy time in her 'home waters' after retiring just a few months ago.
How long did Lolita aka Tokitae spend in captivity?
Lolita spent more than 50 years away from her natural habitat. CBS News reported that she was captured from a pod in the Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington in the year 1970. At the time, her age was said to be four.
The Miami Seaquarium then bought her and kept her with another orca, Hugo, who did not survive for long and died in 1980 because of a brain aneurysm.
How did Lolita die?
As per the Miami Seaquarium’s statement issued on its social media pages, Lolita died due to “a renal condition”. The statement read, “Over the last two days, Toki started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort, which her full Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki medical team began treating immediately and aggressively.”
It continued, “Toki was an inspiration to all who had the fortune to hear her story and especially to the Lummi nation that considered her family,” before adding, “Those of us who have had the honor and privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.”
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Tributes pour in for Lolita
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava shared, “Alongside the many Miamians who grew up visiting her, the generations of activists around the world that were inspired by her story, and the caretakers who remained dedicated to her until the end - today, we say our final goodbye to our beloved Toki.”
Alongside the many Miamians who grew up visiting her, the generations of activists around the world that were inspired by her story, and the caretakers who remained dedicated to her until the end — today, we say our final goodbye to our beloved Toki. pic.twitter.com/98gdWWOVie
— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) August 18, 2023
“Our collective wish was to see Toki in her native waters and we are heartbroken to learn of this sudden loss,” the Mayor added.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals president Ingrid Newkirk expressed her grief via a statement that noted, “Kind people begged the Miami Seaquarium to end Lolita’s hellish life in a concrete cell and release her to a seaside sanctuary, where she could dive deep, feel the ocean’s currents, and even be reunited with the orca believed to be her mother but plans to move her to a seaside sanctuary came too late, and Lolita was denied even a minute of freedom from her grinding 53 years in captivity.”
“PETA urges families to honor Lolita’s memory by never visiting marine parks and is calling on the Seaquarium to continue with plans to send the dolphin who was Lolita’s tankmate to a sea sanctuary, along with all of the other dolphins, before the death toll rises,” Newkirk asserted.