Lolita the orca dies after more than a half-century in captivity at Miami Seaquarium

After living in captivity over half a century at the Miami Seaquarium, Lolita, the iconic orca also known as Tokitae, has passed away due to a presumed renal ailment. Her demise came as the aquarium had begun preparations to return her to the waters near Washington state, her original home.

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 19 August 2023 12:53 pm

Lolita, the orca also known as Tokitae or Toki

Lolita, an orca that was taken into captivity along with six other killer whales in 1970 off the coast of Washington state, has passed away at the Miami Seaquarium. The animal's caregivers announced her demise on Friday, marking over fifty years of her life spent in captivity.

Lolita, also recognized as Tokitae or Toki, passed away due to a presumed renal ailment, despite receiving prompt and intensive medical attention, as stated by the aquarium. The statement noted that Toki had shown significant signs of distress in the past 48 hours. It also included the information that Toki had been a source of inspiration for everyone. Additionally, it mentioned that her approximate age was 57 years.

The Miami Seaquarium announced that it would be shutting down on Saturday, stating that this decision would provide their team with the opportunity to contemplate the life and lasting impact of Lolita.

Lolita was forcefully apprehended in Penn Cove, situated near the coast of Washington state, on August 8, 1970, when she was approximately four years old, as per statements from animal rights advocates. Close to 80 orcas were corralled, and during the attempt to capture them, a number of orcas lost their lives due to drowning, as revealed by video documentation and the account of an individual involved in the operation.

Subsequently, Lolita was purchased by the Miami Seaquarium, where she spent a significant portion of her initial decade in captivity sharing an enclosure with Hugo, a male orca.

In March, the Miami Seaquarium announced its intention to return Lolita to her natural habitat within a span of two years. This initiative was collaboratively devised by The Dolphin Company, the proprietor of the aquarium, along with the nonprofit organization Friends of Toki. Financial support for the relocation was provided by Jim Irsay, the owner of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

During the weeks leading up to her passing, veterinarians noted that Lolita was facing "discomfort in the abdominal/stomach area," despite being in a relatively stable state.

Lolita was being conditioned to get ready for a journey to an ocean habitat located in the waters near Washington state. A team of experts would be responsible for her care there. Lolita's caregivers believed that her more than 50 years in human care had made her incapable of "coping with the challenging life in the wild."