Where Lolita Belongs!
The Real Truth About Lolita

An Orca Named Lolita

En Espanol

Many years ago an orca was born in L pod. She swam to the surface to take a breath of air, and then swam next to her mother. She fed on her mother’s milk for the first year of her life. She was gradually weaned and introduced to eating fish. She was taught and learned to fish on her own. She learned the different sounds and songs of her pod and the other two resident pods. She swam in the sea and her mother taught her to breach, spy hop, and slap her tail against the water.

Then on August 8, 1970 life as she knew it ended. She was captured in Puget Sound and sold to the Miami Seaquarium, where she remains to this day. It is time for Lolita to retire and return to L pod where she belongs.

Lolita, who is 22 feet long, is presently in a tank that is only 35 feet wide. According to the Animal Welfare Act, her tank should be at least 48 feet in length. Orcas swim an average of 80 miles per day. For Lolita, this is like living in a bathtub.

In 1996, Dateline-NBC played a tape of Lolita's family to her. The orca calls had been recorded in 1995 and were of L pod. Lolita still makes those sounds and recognized the sounds when they were played for her.

Scientists have come up with a plan to bring her back to Puget Sound. A sea pen would be built where she will be in her native waters. If she can be reunited with L pod, that would be that ultimate outcome. If not, she would be cared for by the people of Puget Sound for the rest of her life. The problem is that Miami Seaquarium refuses to release her.

Lolita needs to come home to Puget Sound. She has entertained people for over 30 years and it’s time for her to retire. Many celebrities have pledged their support to bring her back to Puget Sound.

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