HELP BRING LOLITA HOME!
See all the Free Lolita Updates since March, 1999

Below: Shelby Proie on CNN Headline News with Lolita's story.

DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR RETIRING THE ORCA KNOWN AS LOLITA TO HER NATIVE HABITAT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Newsweek magazine: Free Lolita! A Whale Story

It's been nearly four decades since Lolita the killer whale was snatched from her family in the waters of Puget Sound. Now activists want to bring her home.

January 23, 2008 (Newsweek magazine) For more than a decade, Howard Garrett has worked tirelessly out of his home on Whidbey Island, Wash., to return an orca whale named Lolita to her native waters. In 1995--inspired by the campaign to release Keiko, the "Free Willy" whale--he teamed with local politicians, offering the Florida aquarium where Lolita works a million dollars to reunite her with the pod of whales she grew up with, off the coast of Washington state. In 1997, he spent two years in Miami--unpaid--working to garner public attention for Lolita's cause; after nearly four decades in captivity, she's served her time, Garrett believes. Every year since then, his organization, the nonprofit advocacy group Orca Network, has held a beachside commemoration of the day Lolita was plucked from her family in the icy waters of Puget Sound.
But 12 years is a long time for anyone to stay committed--even in the Pacific Northwest, where the orca is treated as an icon. "There have been times I've wanted to give up," Garrett says. "Everyone keeps telling us it's hopeless, and even when there's a surge of enthusiasm, eventually it dwindles."
In late November, however, Garrett got a call that, in spite of his usual doubts, stirred the fight inside him. Raul Julia-Levy, the Hollywood producer and son of actor Raul Julia, wanted to sign on to help free Lolita, and with him, promised to bring every last Hollywood contact he could persuade. He immediately put Garrett on the phone with the wife of Jean Claude Van Damme, and within days, had a list that included Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and even 50 Cent. Now Levy says he's got a benefit concert in the works that will include R&B singer Truth Hurts, Snoop Dogg and 50 (who did not return NEWSWEEK requests for comment, though Levy says "the man loves animals like you have no idea"). Nearly a dozen local politicians have signed on, as well. "We have some of the most powerful Hollywood producers behind this campaign, and I have spoken with some of the most prominent scientists in this field," Levy says. "This beautiful animal does not deserve to die in a stinky little tank, and we are not going to take less than a full victory."

For background on the history and goals of the Lolita campaign, please look over a letter to all supporters.

See recent photos of Lolita.

Corrections to Newsweek magazine: Free Lolita! A Whale Story

I asked Dr. Pete Schroeder, the veterinarian in the Newsweek story, about his quote that the transport might kill her. Here's what he said...

Hi Howard, The "stress of the transport killing Lolita" was totally due to and out of the author's bias. I pointed out in great detail that the actual transport was the most clear cut and safe segment of the total process. And I told her that with the proper cooperation of all parties, that was a fairly standard and straight forward procedure.

Bottom line, if Lolita is healthy in her current environment, there would have to be strong benefits to translocation, including a strong chance of successful reintroduction, and the longer the interval between now and her reintroduction to her natural environment, the greater the risk of her inability to reproduce and of living more than ten more years. I agree, Puget Sound alone would not present Lolita with a dramatically hostile environment, but removing her from a habitat to which she has become habituated could be construed as hostile to her.

J. Pete Schroeder
Director of Research, Global Research and Rescue
www.grrescue.com

See Orca Network's letter to Carlos Britto, CEO of InBev Corporation, requesting InBev's help for Lolita's retirement.

The Lolita Come Home Campaign is a major concern of Orca Network. Lolita, first called Tokitae, is the last surviving orca of 45 members of the Southern Resident community that were captured and delivered for display in marine parks between 1965 and 1973. At least 13 others were killed during captures. A young adult at about 40 years old, Lolita has been maintained at a Miami marine park since 1970. Only Corky at Sea World in San Diego, captured in 1969, has been in captivity longer. To read the entire history of the campaign to retire Lolita and allow her the opportunity to rejoin her family, see all the Free Lolita Updates since March, 1999.

1970 - Lolita's capture. Photo ©Wallie Funk

Lolita listening to her family's calls - Photo courtesy NBC

Go HERE for dozens of photos of Lolita

In 1970 a capture team using speedboats and airplanes and lobbing explosives forced the entire Southern Resident orca community into a narrow cove, where they corralled all 110 or so orcas. They chose the young ones to ship to marine parks around the world, and one was delivered to the Miami Seaquarium. First name "Tokitae", she was later given the name "Lolita," and against all odds she has survived these 37 years in a tiny tank that is illegal by the letter of the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA simply combines the width of the show tank with the length of the back tank to arrive at a legal measurement. Lolita's longevity in a tank is extraordinary even by orca standards. Studies have shown that orcas in captivity live much less than half their normal lifespan.

Working with activists around the globe, we've made a lot of progress toward convincing people nationwide and worldwide that it is simply wrong to confine large, family-bonded, long-lived and far-ranging whales to bathtub sized tanks. The deeper problem all along has been to convince people that orcas are capable of returning to their home habitat, IF they are returned to their families. Orcas are much stronger and far more advanced and capable than is generally understood. Their strength is partly due to their cultural bonds and family membership, and the durability of those memories. By returning Lolita to her family she could regain the strength that comes from rebuilding those lifelong family bonds.

While people the world over now understand that captivity is cruel and deadly for orcas, we still need to convince the scientific community and the public that Lolita can safely return to her home and family, in order to convince the owner of the Seaquarium and other decision-makers that Lolita can and must be returned to her family and natural habitat.

Lolita remains a member of her family of birth, the Southern Resident orca community, as demonstrated by her vocalizations that are identical with those her family uses today. She could be safely returned to her home waters to rejoin her family. Here are answers to the question "Can Lolita safely return home?" Much can also be learned from the dozens of rehabilitation and release projects that have been performed worldwide. Especially relevant is this set of protocols designed by Ric O'Barry of One Voice.

Socially and biologically she is capable of gradual reintroduction to her pod. Lolita could be safely returned to her home waters, but objections to her return by the park's owner, apparently based on economic interest and a set of unfounded beliefs often heard from display industry employees, has so far prevented her return.


For the complete background on the tragedy of holding whales and dolphins captive for the amusement industry, please see The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity, produced by the Humane Society of the United States.

Washington State elected officials who support the proposal to return Lolita (Tokitae) to her native waters include: Gov. Gary Locke, Sen. Patty Murray, US Senator Maria Cantwell, US Rep. Rick Larsen, US Rep. Norm Dicks, US Rep. Jim McDermott, US Rep. Adam Smith, US Rep. Linda Smith, US Sen. Slade Gorton, ret., US Rep. Jack Metcalf, ret., Gov. Mike Lowry, ret., Sec. of State Ralph Munro, ret., State rep. Dave Anderson, ret., State Rep. Kelly Barlean, King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, ret., Island County Board of County Commissioners, San Juan County Board of County Commissioners

Organizations in support of the proposal to return Lolita (Tokitae) to her native waters include: Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, World Society for the Protection of Animals, the Dolphin Project, Humane Society of the United States, Earth Island Institute, People for Puget Sound, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, Zoocheck Canada, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society of the UK, No Whales in Captivity (Canada), In Defense of Animals, European Cetacean Organisation, Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators, Orcalab and the Center for Whale Research.

The primary goal of the Lolita Come Home Project is to move Lolita from her present location at Miami Seaquarium to a rehabilitation/retirement facility in an ocean water seapen in Washington State, where she can retire from show business while still receiving the care of humans for her health and safety.

A secondary goal is to reacclimatize Lolita to her native habitat with open water "walks", so she can return to a healthy physical condition and metabolic strength, similar to that of her free-ranging family members.

A third goal of this project is to facilitate Lolita's reintroduction to her family pod members. This will be done acoustically first, visually second, and socially last. It will be up to Lolita to decide whether she wishes to remain in the social company of her family or return to human care.

Act now to return Lolita to her home and family. Send a letter (prewritten by us) to the USDA to persuade them to uphold the law and declare the whale tank at the Seaquarium illegal!

Are you on the Free Lolita update list? Starting March 1, 1999, Free Lolita Updates are the record of the Lolita campaign. To receive Free Lolita email updates just send a message to Orca Network, or just click Join Free Lolita List.

October 22, 2003 - Miami Seaquarium has no record of safety inspections. Seaquarium may be forced to choose between shutting down and major retrofits of the physical plant, in fact basically rebuilding most of the 15 structures including the whale stadium.

September 15, 2003: Miami Seaquarium must fix massive safety violations or shut down

When she looks into your eyes, you can see that Lolita has blue eyes. Photo by Sean Jacobs, September, 2004

Rattle the Cage Productions has produced a brand new website in the format of the other Seaquarium site, called Miami SeaPrison, dedicated to Arthur Hertz and the Miami Seaquarium. Check it out. You'll love it and hate it.

Why Lolita should have a chance to return home!

...and why Lolita COULD safely return home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Send message with your
thoughts about Lolita to:

The Honorable Carlos Alvarez
Executive Mayor, Miami-Dade County
Stehpen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street, Suite #2910
Miami, FL 33128

Please send a letter to Mayor Alvarez (prewritten by us) to let him know that reintroducing Lolita to her home waters is the best thing for her, for her family, and for Miami and even the Seaquarium's financial future.

Donna Darm
Assistant Regional Administrator
Protected Resources Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500
Portland, OR 97232

The Honorable Governor Charlie Crist
PL05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Talahassee, FL 32399-0001
Call: 850/488-4441
Fax: 850/487-0801

Powerful Lolita Documentary!

This documentary tells Lolita's story like none other. It's called Lolita: Slave to Entertainment, produced and written by Tim Gorski and narrated by Valerie Silidker, both of South Florida. This amazing one-hour film follows Lolita's life story, from her capture in Penn Cove in 1970 to her dismal situation today at the Miami Seaquarium, and the efforts by many individuals and organizations to bring her back home. There is new footage of her capture, interviews with those present at the time, and some great animated graphics to illustrate the event.

The documentary features "Flipper" dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, Center for Whale Research director Ken Balcomb, activist Russ Rector and his video of the underside of Lolita's tank and stadium, Ocean Drive Magazine's Jerry Powers, and Howard Garrett of Orca Network, who has championed the campaign to return Lolita to Puget Sound for ten years. This sensitive and beautifully crafted documentary includes some of the best wild orca footage available, giving a sense of what Lolita is missing, and what she could have again.
Go here to find locations and times to see Lolita - Slave to Entertainment Order your copy of Lolita - Slave to Entertainment, on video or DVD

Photos from the August 8 Commemorative Event to mark the
anniversary of Lolita's capture in words and photos

To learn more about Lolita's tragic situation, read:

Life Before Captivity;
Lolita's capture.
and Lolita's life today.

You've heard about the trade in captured orcas. Here's a complete and updated look at killer whales in aquariums and parks, including many photos...thanks to Stefan Jacobs' Orca Home.

Current number of known orcas in captivity: 41

sorted by date of capture/birth
sorted by origin

and...Current number of orcas known to have died in captivity: 152

sorted by date of capture/birth

Altogether at least 134 orcas have been captured for public display. Of those, 120 have died since 1965, and 30 captive-born orcas have died.