On August 8, 1970, killer whales were corralled into Penn Cove. These were the Endangered Southern Residents. At least 80 whales were involved in that roundup, with 5 whales drowning and 8 whales, including Lolita, being sold to different marine parks around the globe. 

Lolita was sold to the Miami Seaquarium in Florida, and has only ever seen 1 other orca while in captivity. Hugo was also part of the Southern Resident community but he sadly died in 1980. 

Lolita has been held captive for longer than 5 decades, and she is the oldest orca currently living in captivity, and the last SRKW taken into captivity. The tank she’s living in is too small, and violates the Animal Welfare Act. Her tank is 80 x 60, with a depth of 20 feet that slopes up to 12 feet. The Seaquarium has provided no shade for her. She currently lives in the smallest orca tank, and only shares it with a few Pacific White-Sided dolphins that usually attack and rake her.

Even due to her health problems, Lolita still performs in shows twice a day for the paying public. The Miami Seaquarium doesn’t care at ALL about her, as they abandoned her during Hurricane Irma. I want Lolita to be able to see her mother before she dies. I do not want this prison to be her coffin. Just like you and me, she deserves freedom. 

Please do not support the Miami Seaquarium (or any marine park that holds and exploits cetaceans, for that matter). Orcas are not ours to use for entertainment.