Remember when the lockdown extended past 21 days? Well, imagine 50 years. And you’re a massive whale in a tiny tank. This was Lolita’s story, but a turn-in-the-tides has animal lovers everywhere celebrating.
Florida, USA (3 April, 2023) — Lolita the show whale (AKA, ‘the World’s Loneliest Orca’ ) has long been a crowd favourite. After all, she’s a beautiful 24-metre-long, 10-metre-wide orca that most people would never be able to encounter up close…
…Nor should they.
Finally, her bluer waters are on the horizon, thanks to plans for her release after 50 years in captivity.
According to Peta who organised a massive campaign spearheading her release (and endured several lawsuits at that), the news has been a long-awaited victory.
Lolita’s Story
“Lolita was abducted from her home nearly 53 years ago and has been languishing in the world’s smallest orca tank ever since. She has been without the companionship of another orca since 1980, has had very little stimulation and no opportunity to engage meaningfully in most natural orca behaviour, and spends her days floating listlessly.” — Peta.
Beyond a tiny home at the Miami Seaquarium, Lolita also reportedly endured being attacked by dolphins she was incompatible with, steroids and hormones and an impactful lack of shade on her skin during her time as a show whale.
How small is a small tank?
Lolita’s tank is just four times her size, according to Euronews— making it something of a glorified fish tank. This doesn’t only cut down her quality of life, but the length of it too. Wild whales can outlive humans, swimming well into their 90s. While in a tank, their lives are often sadly shortened, per the Animal Welfare Institute shares.
Where is Lolita Going?
According to the conference where the Miami Seaquarium shared the news of her relocation plans, the move could take place within 18-24 months. This would see her move to a ‘sea pen’ in Washington state where some of Lolita’s pod and family are believed to still swim near, per CNN.
Thereafter, she’ll be taught how to care for and feed herself. If all goes according to plan she’ll be properly freed back into her home oceans, reunited with her pod and even her mother (who reports share is believed to be alive)!
Though protests and public pressure were a huge spark for Lolita’s freedom plan, a philanthropist named Jim Irsay had a huge role to play too.
According to Peta, Isray is assisting in funding Lolita’s relocation out of pocket, and can’t wait to see her flourish.
Lolita playing in small spaces…but “Tomorrow the Green Grass!!”✌️👏❤️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/cekXK2ft4H
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 31, 2023
Lolita’s story is a powerful reminder that when enough people speak up about something, change is already on its way. Not too long ago, we shared the good news of Humpback Whales no longer being endangered in Australia, but for us (like many others) every whale counts.
And we can’t wait for a world where ‘having a whale of a time’ rings true for all whales, always.