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Lolita has spent decades trapped in a concrete tank
Change.org
There's a new petition taking off on Change.org, and we think you might be interested in signing it.
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Free Lolita! Help this wild orca trapped in a tiny concrete tank for decades.
Robin Jewell Roberts
Three Rivers, Michigan
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Lolita the orca was captured off the coast of Washington decades ago for the entertainment industry and continues to spend her miserable days in a concrete tank at Miami Seaquarium. She was about four years old when she was taken from the wild and some of her family members are still there -- including her mother! We have a chance to reunite them so Lolita may live her remaining days in a peaceful and loving coastal sanctuary so please sign this petition asking the Miami Seaquarium and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to free Lolita!
Orcas are highly intelligent animals, and I get shivers even trying to imagine how much Lolita has been suffering. She lives in the tiniest tank in North America for captive orcas. In the wild, she could swim up to 100 miles a day, but currently she has space less than 60 x 80 feet. The confinement is so stressful and abysmal that the only other orca at Miami Seaquarium years ago repeatedly smashed his head into the walls of the tank and killed himself.
So this intelligent, social animal, Lolita, has no company of other orcas and animal experts say she’s exhibiting signs of psychological trauma. Miami Seaquarium knows public opinion is against capturing wild orcas for entertainment and there is no business future for companies who mistreat animals.
Two major developments have happened. First, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to decide on Lolita’s status under the Endangered Species Act in 2015. The Pacific Northwest’s Southern Resident orcas are already covered under the Endangered Species Act so a logical person would expect Lolita, who was taken from this community, to also be protected from abuse.
Miami Seaquarium also got newer owners, Palace Entertainment, in recent months, and they must decide if they want such a horrendous case of animal cruelty on their conscience.As we’ve seen with the case of SeaWorld, the public does not support cruelty and attendance and business partnerships will certainly suffer.
We’re organizing the largest march in history for Lolita on January 17 in Miami. Please sign and share so we can present your signature as part of this large event. Not everyone can travel to attend, but every one of you can take a moment to sign my petition for Lolita. She’s suffered decades and each signature will bring her one step closer to freedom.
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