Whilst representatives of the Lummi Nation have travelled thousands of miles across the USA during their Totem Pole Journey for Lolita, Miami Seaquarium continues to be deaf to pleas to retire her. In the throes of finalising their multi-million dollar renovation to the facility, Miami Seaquarium has not included any renovations to Lolita’s tank – which is unquestionably the smallest orca tank in the USA and totally unsuitable to house a large marine mammal.
Lolita has survived captivity for almost half a decade, performing endlessly earning a vast amount of money for Miami Seaquarium and company owners Parques Reunidos who also are on a vast expansion programme, therefore to continue to refuse to even discuss plans for a better situation for Lolita is deeply saddening and reflects just how they value her as an individual.
The Lummi Nation has pleaded for Lolita and next month rallies will take place across the globe – all asking that she be given the opportunity to retire to more natural surroundings. We hope that her ‘owners’ can find it in their hearts to reconsider their position and Lolita is given back at least a small slice of the life that was so cruelly taken from her when she was captured in 1970, and she can at last go home.
