Please take NEW ACTION for Tokitae! ✊
Contact your U.S. Representative as a constituent asking their support of the Rep. Salazar and DelBene letter of request to USDA on Tokitae & Lii's behalf. All information in Google Doc, top button of my LinkTree.
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Very recent news (not on mainstream media) presents an excellent opportunity to take new powerful action regarding Tokitae/Lolita’s welfare and to express wishes for her release to a sea sanctuary.
Washington, D.C – (July 20, 2022) Congresswomen Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led a letter calling for an update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Lolita – the world’s oldest captive orca who has lived at the Miami Seaquarium since her capture from Washington’s Puget Sound in 1970.
“Lolita is a Miami treasure, and we must ensure her safety and well-being. The federal government needs to step up and I am calling on the appropriate authorities to help provide the attention and care that she needs,” said Salazar.
“Our responsibility to Southern Resident Killer Whales extends far beyond the Puget Sound. We must ensure our animal welfare laws are fully enforced to protect these icons of the Pacific Northwest and I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support in this effort,” said DelBene.
The lawmakers have requested clarity from the USDA as to what protections Lolita and other animals have if they are not covered under the Animal Welfare Act exhibitor’s license.
Background:
Earlier this year, the Seaquarium changed ownership and the USDA issued a license to the new owner under the Animal Welfare Act. The license unusually excluded coverage of Seaquarium’s Whale Stadium, where Lolita and another animal, a dolphin named Lii, both reside. USDA has never issued a license that does not cover all the licensee’s facilities and animals. Because these two animals are also covered under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, this USDA decision raises concerns about the animals’ legal status and welfare.
In addition to Rep. Salazar and DelBene, the letter was also signed by Representatives Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Brian Mast (FL-18), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Adam Schiff (CA-28).
* SOURCE: Salazar and DelBene Request Update on Welfare of Miami Orca, Lolita
Please take this most powerful action: Write or call your US Representative (Congressperson) in support of the Salazar and DelBene letter of request to USDA.
All information in Google Doc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JeFE-2wrzyiJ4cFIiG8-N0ZK4jmqKZq0mvt1ybRLaPw/edit?usp=sharing
+ JOIN our "16,425 Days A Slave!" (of the Origami Whales Project) FB group for Tokitae/Lolita to return home, and to save the EndangeredSouthern Resident Orcas, including her mother (Ocean Sun), family (L Pod)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/origamiwhalesproject
Follow Peggy Oki on Instagram: @peggy_oki
on Twitter: @_PeggyOki
Find additional actions on Peggy Oki’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/PeggyOki
To read the back story of Tokitae/Lolita’s 51-year confinement and inhumane treatment go to
“A perfect storm and silver lining.” (December 24, 2021 updated Jan. 22, 2022)
https://www.peggyoki.com/blog/archive/a-perfect-storm-and-silver-lining.htm
“A picture can say a thousand words. (October 26, 2021)
https://www.peggyoki.com/blog/archive/a-picture-can-say-a-thousand-words.htm
Tokitae/Lolita has been an incredible warrioress of grace & inspiration to us, and needs us all to be strong for her. Please watch our "Tokitae Visualization". Introductions and orientation are presented before the actual visualization portion beginning at around 7 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYI2vEZX2qE
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Peggy Oki, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director
Further information about Tokitae/Lolita: www.origamiwhalesproject.org/lolita
INVITE/JOIN our “16425 Days A Slave” campaign (of the Origami Whales Project) FB group for Tokitae/Lolita to return home, and to save the Endangered Southern Resident Orcas, including her mother (Ocean Sun), family (L Pod)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/origamiwhalesproject
✊If in Miami area on weekend(s) please join Miami Seaquarium Weekly Demos, every Sunday from 12-2pm: https://bit.ly/3bqD8VJhttps://bit.ly/3bqD8VJ
This campaign is in collaboration with:
Women of the World united against Taiji
Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/women.against.Taiji
Website - www.wowvstaiji.com