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Where Lolita Belongs! (Not in the Miami Seaquarium)
“Imagine if the world you lived in,
the space you breathed in, and the freedom you played in were suddenly
taken away.” (From the theater
trailer for “Free Willy”)
Lolita's situation at Miami
Seaquarium is like confining a large dog to a crate that isn't big
enough for him to stand up or turn around and never letting him out to
run around and play.
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During the 1970's, orcas were captured at Penn Cove on Whidbey Island. They were sold to various aquariums around the world. All of them died, except Lolita. She was taken from her home in the Puget Sound and sold to the Miami Seaquarium. She is the remaining living orca from the many that were ripped from their home back in the 1980's. Despite efforts by a great many people, the owner of the Miami Seaquarium refuses to allow her to retire. It is time for compassion to overcome greed. Lolita has made the Miami Seaquarium more than enough money and has well earned her freedom. The Question: Where does Lolita belong? The Answer: She belongs with her family in Puget Sound. And please, DO NOT BUY A TICKET TO THE MIAMI SEAQUARIUM!
". . . the run-down Miami Seaquarium, where Lolita the orca, who was captured from the waters off Washington State, suffers alone in the oldest and smallest tank for an orca in the entire country." Animal Rights Foundation of Florida |
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"I wish to add my voice to those seeking her retirement." Sir Elton John |
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“There is about as much educational benefit to be gained in studying dolphins in captivity as there would be studying mankind by only observing prisoners held in solitary confinement” Jacques Cousteau |
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About Capturing Orcas: "It's a very violent procedure. You have to capture them, separate them from their families, drag them literally kicking and screaming into these tanks and then their job for the rest of their life is to amuse an endless stream of people." Ric O'Barry |
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"She speaks her language. She's in her tank, but she doesn't have anybody to talk to." Ken Balcomb III |
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"When we return wild animals to nature, we merely return them to what is already theirs. For man cannot give wild animals freedom, they can only take it away." Jacques Cousteau |
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“As news gets out
about traumatic captures, barren concrete tanks, high mortality rates,
and aberrant – even dangerous – animal behavior, people are beginning to
realize that hidden behind the dolphin’s “smile” is an industry built on
suffering… people are becoming concerned about marine mammal suffering
and uncomfortable at sea circuses. Citizens are now speaking out loudly
that dolphins and whales belong in the ocean”. ARFF (Animal Rights
Foundation of Florida) |
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"Meaningful change usually happens because of passionate individuals,
not because of committees or governments". Margaret Mead |
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"She's made the money for those guys.
She's paid for her retirement too." Ken Balcomb III |
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"The selfish spirit of commerce
knows no country and feels no passion or principle, but that of gain".
Thomas Jefferson |
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People get to retire. Animals deserve
the same. |
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