Free Lolita

Thousands turned up for the "Free Lolita Rally" at the Miami Seaquarium on Saturday. People came from all over the country for this one protest. They want Lolita to return to the Pacific Northwest. But after 40 plus years living in a tank, can she make it in the wild?

I remember Lolita performing with "her husband" Hugo, so many years ago. Both of them shared a tank in the 1970s. The tank Lolita lives in is only 80 ft. by 35 ft., in clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Brenda Peterson writes in support of freeing the whales and dolphins. She, like so many today believe that the orcas deserve to live a free life and not perform circus tricks every few hours, which Lolita has done for most of her life. "Whales belong in the wild. The largest of dolphins, orcas, have lifespans that rival humans. The oldest orca, matriarch Granny of J pod, is 103 years old and continues to lead her J Pod in travels as far as 50 kilometers a day. Orca brains are over four times larger than our brains. Scientists have well documented their complex culture of communication, cooperative hunting, and peaceful, matrilineal societies. Orcas stay with their family pods for life," says Brenda.

The Seaquarium should be turned into a preserve. Those circus days should be over.

Lolita needs to retire.

Photos by Michelle Swaby-Smith