Killer Whale Show Shut Down in Miami: Health of “Lolita” in Question

March 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Calls are pouring in from across the globe as worried supporters of killer whale Lolita seek answers about the health and well-being of the beloved Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) orca. Media outlets and the marine park itself, located on Key Biscayne just south of Miami Beach, have been inundated with phone calls as details remain elusive since the cancellation of her performances late last week.

In a statement released to the media by park staff, Lolita, who has been performing at the marine park for more than 4 decades, is reportedly “being treated for a tooth infection, a recurrence of a dental issue she had in 1994. Although she is not performing shows, she is eating normally and being treated with antibiotics”

However, inquiries into Lolita’s condition and the cancellation of her shows have been met with varied responses by marine park employees, leading to speculation that the prognosis for Lolita is far worse than her “caretakers” want the public to believe… even sparking rumors that she has already died.

Typically, marine parks such as MSQ shroud themselves under a veil of secrecy, keeping the details of animal deaths a mystery in this highly lucrative entertainment business. But the secrecy of the marine mammal entertainment industry is no secret to former killer whale trainer Samantha Berg, who released the following statement:

“The evasive maneuvers taken by the MSQ to keep the public in the dark as to the true nature of Lolita’s health perfectly demonstrate the captive marine mammal industry’s willingness to lie to protect their “investment” at all costs. No news leaves everyone who cares about this whale to think the worst – Lolita is either dead or gravely ill. It’s an unbalanced relationship between the public and the aquarium. On the one hand, there is an entire marketing machine dedicated to creating the illusion of a “family relationship” between Lolita and the public. Yet, ironically, the MSQ has apparently turned their back on all the supporters who have loved and cared for this whale over the past 40 years and I find that to be cruel and unnecessary.  What makes this situation particularly offensive is that that we’ve had the opportunity to return Lolita to her family for 40 years.  Yet it appears that she may die the same way she’s lived most of her life – alone in a tiny pool. This situation is way beyond tragic and nothing the MSQ does in the future can ever make up for the way they’ve treated not only Lolita but the people who love her.”

Since the death of her former tank-mate Hugo in 1980, Lolita has been all alone performing tricks for tourists, two shows a day in what is the smallest and oldest orca pool in the United States. The tank is merely one-and-a-half-times her size, has garnered numerous safety violations, and does not meet current US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Welfare Regulations.

Captured in 1970 off the coast of Washington State, “Tokitae”, who was later given the stage name “Lolita”, is the last surviving orca of 45 members of the Southern Resident community that were captured and delivered for display in marine parks between 1965 and 1973. At least 13 members of her family were killed during the brutal captures. Lolita’s mother, believed to be 83 years old, still thrives among the Southern Resident L-pod in the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

For an amazing look at Lolita’s family, and where she will hopefully one day return… watch this beautiful audiovisual montage “Voice of the Orcas” of K & L pods in the Haro Strait of the Pacific Northwest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1tKddgDfG0



For many years, the Orca Network and SaveLolita.com have been leading the way in the fight to have Lolita returned to her family in the Pacific Northwest with a well conceived relocation plan. But park owners have been reluctant to relinquish control of their star performer who has garnered millions of dollars in profits for 40 years.

The lack of empathy displayed by the Miami Seaquarium over these latest developments and throughout the years has not deterred thousands of Lolita’s caring fans who will continue to seek answers and continue to call upon the park owners to retire her back to her native waters.

To learn what you can do to help Lolita and to stay up to date on the latest developments about her health and status, visit The Orca Project’s report “The Truth about Lolita…?” here: http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/lolita-tee...

And for the latest orca updates, additional content, links, photos, videos, documents, news and stories, visit www.theorcaproject.com or http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/

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The Orca Project is a small but effective non-profit organization, collaborating with some of the world’s top marine mammal experts and caring professionals from diverse backgrounds, working to change the public’s attitude and government supervision of marine mammals in captivity through research, investigation and education. We are committed to providing the public with a look behind the scenes of the marine mammal captivity/entertainment industry, explore the legal and ethical issues of keeping orcas in captivity and to keep pressure on our government oversight agencies to enforce and improve animal welfare regulations.