VETERAN: Lolita and an instructor, here during a show at the Miami Seaquarium in the US coastal city in 1995. Photo: Newscom / Newscom Photo: Nuri Vallbona / Miami Herald via AP
The orca Lolita died on Friday at the Miami Seaquarium amusement park in the United States. She was scheduled to be released in the near future.
Published:
Less than 30 minutes ago
Updated less than 20 minutes ago
It writes news agency AP.
Lolita, also known as Toki, has lived and performed at the theme park since she was captured at just four years old in 1970.
In April, it was decided that she should return to her natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest after 52 years in captivity.
In a statement, the group Friends of Toki said that in the past two days she began to show signs that she was not well.
Intense treatment was initiated at the Miami Seaquarium, but the 57-year-old orca could not be saved.
– Those who had the privilege of spending time with her will forever remember her beautiful soul, the group says in a statement.
Animal welfare activists have worked for several years to get Lolita released from captivity.
On a press conference in April, the Miami Seaquriaum stated that they were working to release Lolita within the next two years. The move itself was to be financed by Jim Irsay, who is also the owner of the NFL club Indianapolis Colts.
– I am devastated that Toki has left us. Her story captured my heart, just as it did for millions of others, says Irsay in a statement late on Saturday Norwegian time.
Lolita belongs to the Southern Resident Killer Whale family, also known as Orca. The family was categorized as endangered in 2005, partly due to large-scale hunting and captivity of the animals in the 1970s.
Lolita was “retired” and did her last show at the Miami Seaquarium last year.
She has since lived in a tank that is just over 24 meters long and just over 10 meters wide, writes CNN.
Published:
Published: 19.08.23 at 04:04
Updated: 19.08.23 at 04:19
Copy linkCopy linkShare on FacebookShare on FacebookShare by emailShare by email
2023-08-19 02:04:40
#Lolita #killer #whale #dead
