Lolita the whale, also known as Tokitae, has been declared back in the wild. It's been more than 52 years since the whale Tokitae was caught in the bays of the Pacific Northwest and held in captivity for recreation.
The announcement to release the Tokitae whale back into the wild was made earlier on March 30, according to Reuters. It is believed to be the result of years of fighting by animal rights groups and Indigenous leaders calling for the fish to be released into the wild.
According to The Guardian, the Miami Seaquarium and related parties are working together and hope to bring Tokitae back to the ocean in the next 18 to 24 months. The aquarium's owner also announced an "agreement and binding" with the animal rights group Friends of Lolita and began the process of releasing Tokitae into the wild.
It has been more than 50 years since Tokitae was captured and taken off Whidbey, a quiet island off the coast of Washington state. Like many other whales, Tokitae was separated from her mother and brought to the aquarium to train for performances and entertainment. During the capture of elephants from the wild, a dozen whales died, and over 50 were kept in captivity for display.
At the aquarium, Tokitae is the oldest killer whale ever to have lived in captivity. Tokitae has spent several decades performing and entertaining at the Miami Seaquarium, and as a result of the conditions in captivity, she has developed skin infections and some intestinal problems.
Tokitae will receive round-the-clock care until it adapts to its new surroundings and the staff at the Seaquarium are prepared to release it into the ocean. The recreational capture of killer whales, including Lolita's capture, has led to a 40% decline in the number of whales in Puget Sound.
At present, only three different families, totaling 73 whales, are found in the region's southern waters. However, the release of Tokitae, who has skin problems, into the ocean has raised concerns among experts about the health of other whales. They fear that she may infect the already endangered southern resident killer whales.
