Marine Connection has received reports from our colleagues at Orca Network on the recent court case addressing Lolita’s continued welfare, living conditions and plans for her future.
We are delighted that the judge upheld the request that the case is remanded for trial solely on Miami Seaquarium’s compliance with the Endangered Species Act. As Lolita was taken from a wild population which is listed as endangered and has been formally recognised as a member of the said population (the only one remaining in captivity), this is applicable to her.
Public and scientific concern over the conditions she is being forced to endure in captivity continue and support for her to be retired to more natural surroundings is gaining momentum. We believe it is time to finally decide her fate, allow her to retire to a seaside sanctuary and give her back some sense of what is normality for a wild-born orca – something she has sadly missed out on during her decades in captivity.
