December 24, 2021 updated Jan. 22, 2022
Can you spare 15 minutes to help lone female Orca “Lolita” in the most crucial time of her over 51 years at Miami Seaquarium?
Here’s the back story of Tokitae/Lolita’s 51-year confinement and inhumane treatment that keeps getting worse, and how you can contact the organizations and individuals listed above to take action (or CLICK HERE to go to action section): (!O please include option for people to skip down page to action section)
I want to believe that every cloud has a silver lining.
As if the storm of scathing violations in the USDA inspection report released in September (2021) (1) was not enough, last month (December 2021) 3 more marine mammals died due to conditions of poor care at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ).
Since my blog “A picture can say a thousand words” (!O please include link in the title to blog 1) on the scathing USDA inspection report, on December 17th, the Miami Herald reported “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating the Miami Seaquarium after citing the aging facility for a number of serious animal welfare violations including feeding spoiled fish to Lolita, the park’s main attraction, and not keeping track of where animals were placed in different pools, which led to violent fights that contributed to the death of at least two dolphins last year. “ (2)
This string of deaths is a common issue at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ). Quoting Dolphin Project: “Between March 2019 and April 2020, five bottlenose dolphins and a California sea lion died at the facility, adding to the urgency of this (USDA) report.” (3) “With a history of 130+ cetacean deaths under Miami Seaquarium’s care, the dolphinarium’s list of self-reported causes of death are both horrifying and heartbreaking.” (4)
“Lolita” who I will respecfully refer to as Tokitae, has suffered over 51 years of being forced to perform tricks for food. After over five decades of enslavement, Tokitae’s food has been reduced in quantity by nearly one-fifth, leading to possible malnutrition and dehydration. A degradation of quality is also reported to change her portion of salmon to “salmon chunks and guts.”(5) Add to that possible ailments including inflammation shown in her bloodwork due to being fed poor quality including “bad smelling” (rotting) Capelin fish.
Lack of transparency on Lolita’s current condition has been worrisome especially as the Whale Stadium where Tokitae is kept has been closed to public entry since August (2021).
But that’s not all. For over five decades, she has been kept in a concrete tank that is technically illegal by US animal welfare standards, exacerbated by no shade provided to protect her from exposure to the blaring Florida sun. On top of the resulting eye damage from sun, a defective decrepit water filtration system has led to her suffering from exposure to excessive amounts of chlorine.
As if Miami Seaquarium just can’t get enough out of her, Tokitae’s “...medical records indicate an injury to her lower mandible on February 25th, March 10th, March 31st, April 6th and 7th of 2021. In a medical entry written on April 3rd, 2021, the AV directed the staff to not request head in entry jumps from Toki. The Training Curator, who has been working at this facility for 6 months, disregarded the veterinary instructions for Toki to restart bow jumps only and re-instituted head in entry jumps including speed runs and multiple high energy jumps. “ Furthermore the veterinarians did not approve of a planned move of two Pacific white sided dolphins into Toki’s pool and strongly disagreed the plan should proceed due to Toki being medically and behaviorally challenged.”
Tokitae has been kept in the smallest Orca tank in North America, and for over a decade with the added feature of Pacific White-sided Dolphins. Though Miami Seaquarium claims they are companions, these species are not seen together in the wild. Some claim that the dolphins harrass Tokitae including raking her with their teeth. Miami Herald reported last month “Catalina, a Pacific white-sided dolphin that lived in the same tank and performed shows with Lolita, died earlier this month from what staff believes may have been trauma after aggression by the 56-year-old orca.”
I offer this analogy of her situation: Imagine an innocent human incarcerated, then having monkeys added to her cell under the guise of companionship. A puppy as companion for a human, yes; a monkey, no! Imagine how that human would respond when constantly harrassed by an incompatible species. How would any species of animal human or otherwise respond in self defense?
Keeping in mind “130+ cetacean deaths under Miami Seaquarium’s care” (4), I shudder at the use of the word “care”. Would it be a stretch to use the term “prison violence” in the case of Tokitae, and of Bimini described in page 5-6 of the USDA inspection report?
“The Dolphin Harbor pool has inadequate fencing separating the pools and groups of dolphins. Sections of the underwater fencing are held together with plastic zip ties. On the morning of April 18th, 2021, trainers observed that two dolphins, Cobalt and Zo had broken into the same pool containing Bimini and JJ. Bimini, a 21-year-old female bottlenose dolphin with a chronic medical condition (collapsed trachea and a consistently high white blood cell count), was seriously injured. The Attending Veterinarian examined Bimini using an infrared camera and noted areas of concern over her chest. A hit from conspecifics (Cobalt and Zo) that may have broken her ribs was suspected and the AV stabilized the critical dolphin. A radiologist confirmed the presence of at least 4 broken ribs on the 8th of June 2021.”
Such reported shocking and undeniable poor treatment points to MSQ’s interest only in profit, not animal welfare. It was announced last summer that Palace Entertainment (subsidiary of the multinational theme park corporation Parques Reunidos) would be selling MSQ to The Dolphin Company (TDC).The timing couldn’t have been better after the USDA inspection. And one can’t help but want to acuse the current owners of wanting as swiftly as possible to wash their blood-stained hands of poor public image.
On top of this all is continued lack of transparency. The Whale Stadium where Tokitae is kept remains closed to public entry since August (2021). There has been no verifiable evidence of her condition for over 5 months. Considering what we do know there is very real reason for deep concern.
As plans can backfire, the violations and recent deaths have resulted in delaying transfer of ownership. TDC is a multinational corporation that boasts “the #1 Dolphin Family in the world and the largest Park operator in Latin America. 32 Parks and Dolphin Habitats, located in 8 countries and 2 continents”. Is this not a bad thing? Isn’t there hope with the new ownership? No one knows. All that we know is that fellow activists have reached out to ask if TDC would be able to report and/or intervene to help Tokitae and the rest of the captives at MSQ. And TDC’s response has been that they cannot do anything until the transfer of ownership is complete.
All that we know is in a 4.5 minute video (a) taken by drone (August 2021) of Tokitae; the last evidence of her existence of over 51 years. Imagine this fellow Being with a brain second largest on the planet, far more complex and 4.5 times larger by weight than that of any human’s, kept in that bathtub of a concrete tank. It is heartbreaking to know of her tragic story (b) which began at age 4 when stolen from a highly socially bonded family that in the wild swims 100 miles per day, together their entire lives.
With the ongoing pandemic most people across the world have now experienced confinement and separation from our loved ones for about a year and a half. Now imagine 51 and a half years.
Since her male Orca companion Hugo’s suicide over 41 years ago(b), with exception of the dolphins that have been incompatibly kept with her, Tokitae has suffered literal solitary confinement and torture for over five decades in a living Hell. How does one explain her will to live despite such adverse conditions, and with a grace that feels nearly incomprehensible for us humans?
Is there a silver lining to every cloud?
Wheels are in motion with a sound retirement plan and fund raising for Tokitae’s return home.
In the darkness of night, stars are aligning.
A perfect storm now hangs over Miami Seaquarium.
The sea has parted to reveal the weakest link.
Together we can break the chains of Tokitae’s enslavement.
Some people have asked me if I think its possible to return Tokitae to her mother Ocean Sun and L Pod. To this I ask: Will you dedicate 15 minutes of your time to make a silver lining happen?
(a) 4.5 minute video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVPugoZ3rp8&t=1s
(b) Learn more about Tokitae: https://www.origamiwhalesproject.org/lolita
Let’s contact the following with these key objectives in mind.
[All are welcome to refer to any of the points above with reference links (at end of this post).]
Politely ask to include Ms. Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
Write the USDA and APHIS (The Animal & Plant Inspection Service) and ask them to enforce the Animal Welfare Act on behalf of Lolita. (APHIS oversees the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and the USDA oversees APHIS.)
Feel free to copy and paste the following, and please PERSONALIZE for a more impactful message.
Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 200-A
Washington, DC 20250
E-mail: [email protected]
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Drive Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (919) 855-7100
Subject: Concerns regarding welfare of Lolita the orca, and dolphin deaths at Miami Seaquarium.
Dear USDA Animal Care,
Because I am deeply concerned about several previous and 3 recent marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) that in my opinion could have been avoided I am asking the USDA to take immediate action.
Miami Seaquarium’s failure to appropriately manage marine mammals in conditions that ultimately led to three very recent deaths are among my many concerns from the very troubling USDA inspection report released in September this year. Several factors from the 17 page report include not providing shade resulting in eye damage, and possible ailments due to being fed poor quality fish in state of decay. Improper water quality management resulting in parasites in some cases, and exposure to toxins including unhealthy levels of peeling paint in some tanks all point to this antiquated facility being unfit for the keeping of marine mammals. The inspection report also points to failure in preventing conflicts between incompatible dolphins, ultimately leading to their deaths.
Lack of transparency on Lolita’s current condition exacerbates my concern as the Whale Stadium where Lolita is kept has been closed to public entry since August (2021). Among my concerns for Lolita from the very troubling USDA inspection report are eye damage resulting from lack of shade at the exhibit, injuries resulting from performance demands placed on an elderly animal (her estimated age is 56 years), possible ailments due to being fed poor quality including fish in a state of decay, and reduced food hence water by close to 20%.
Lolita has spent over 51 years at the Miami Seaquarium in an undersized tank with no shade to protect her from direct sunlight and no protection from the weather, including hurricanes. Her exposure to the sun and weather violates Section 3.103(3)(b) of the Animal Welfare Act. Lolita’s tank is also 13 feet shorter than what is required by the Animal Welfare Act (Section 3.104). Lolita is 22 feet long and weighs over 7,000 pounds. Her tank is way too small for an orca of her size.
I have in good faith attempted to work directly with the current operators of MSQ and was directed by them to contact The Dolphin Company. Upon contacting the Dolphin Company I was then directed to contact MSQ. I am continuing to get the run around from both the current and future operators and would like the USDA to expedite emergency action before another death occurs.
Please involve the veterinarians who know Lolita best including long time attending veterinarian (from MSQ) Ms. Magdalena Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
Please kindly respond to let me know what action your department will be taking to ensure the welfare of Lolita and all marine mammals at MSQ.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name]
Call Florida’s Miami Dade State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle: Politely urge her to consider animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium: (305) 547-0100, M-F 8am - 6pm EST or email: <[email protected]>
Please feel free to add comments from above to sample script below.
Hello Ms. Fernandez Rundle,
I am deeply concerned about 3 recent marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium that in my opinion could have been avoided. This is in addition to the long history of over 130 dolphin deaths at the seaquarium.
Quoting the USDA inspection report released September (this year): “The facility’s attending veterinarian’s recommendations regarding the provision of adequate veterinary care and other aspects of animal care and use have been repeatedly disregarded or dismissed over the last year.”
PETA has been urging your office to consider animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium since submitting evidence in May 2020 of the abusive conditions in which Lolita is held.
The USDA inspection in June of this year reports several violations that would be considered cruel and unacceptable for the welfare of Lolita and many of the marine mammals kept at the Seaquarium.
I am asking you to thoroughly investigate and consider filing animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium.
I urge you to request an immediate comprehensive medical and behavioral assessment of Lolita, so that her critical needs can be met right now.
Please involve the veterinarians who know Lolita best including long time attending veterinarian (from MSQ) Ms. Magdalena Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
Politely reach out to Miami Dade County’s designated temporary supervisor, Miami Zoo Director William Elgar
℅ Zoo Miami
12400 SW 152nd St
Miami, FL 33177
Phone: (305) 251-0400 x 0 ask to be transferred to his secretary, Jasmine Estrada.
Dear Mr. William Elgar,
I am {STATE How YOU FEEL} over news last week of 3 additional marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ). The USDA inspection report on MSQ (1) and further news this past week revealed several violations for poor conditions resulting illness, and improper management leading to untimely deaths (2) at this facility.
These deaths could have been prevented. Quoting the USDA inspection report: “The facility’s attending veterinarian’s recommendations regarding the provision of adequate veterinary care and other aspects of animal care and use have been repeatedly disregarded or dismissed over the last year.”
Since August (2021) the stadium where Lolita is exhibited has been closed, and public is not allowed entry to assess her current condition. Among my concerns from the very troubling USDA inspection report are lack of shade, eye damage, injuries resulting from performance demands placed on an elderly animal (her estimated age is 56 years), possible ailments due to being fed poor quality fish, and feeding reduced by close to 20%. Much of this resulted from disregarding advice from the long time attending veterinarian Magdalena Rodriquez.
Please intervene by involving the veterinarians who know Lolita best including Ms. Rodriguez. I urge you to request an immediate comprehensive medical and behavioral assessment of Lolita, so that her critical needs can be met right now.
I understand that you are very busy, but if you would please kindly respond to let me know what actions you will take I would appreciate it.
Sincerely
[include your name]
SOURCES:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GoFundMe Sea sanctuary for Tokitae/Lolita/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut to be returned to her home waters.
Statement from the Lummi / SacredSea.org:
“If we can show the USDA, other government agencies, and the Dolphin Company, that we have a great home for her in the Salish Sea, as well as a robust plan for her ongoing care, they may see the wisdom and beauty of saying “Yes!” to our call for her release.”
Phase 1: completed. We commissioned Whale Sanctuary Project and their network of experts to draft a comprehensive plan on how to safely and responsibly bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut home. The plan, which was paid for by online donations from our generous supporters, details all aspects of her return, her Salish Sea home, and her ongoing care.
Phase 2: NOW. We are fundraising to secure a site for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s home in the Salish Sea. We are in search of a safe, protected area in the San Juan Islands. In this phase of work, we will assess prospective sites and then secure the best available site. Leases, permits, negotiations and outreach are part of this process. We are hopeful that The Dolphin Company (the new owners of Miami Seaquarium) and involved governmental agencies will see that there is a real, better, and immediately actionable alternative to her concrete tank.
Phase 3: 2022. Once we have secured a site, we will begin accepting pledges for putting the entire plan into action. If and when she is released from the Seaquarium, those pledges will be called in and she will come home.
Donations may be made at: gofundme.com/f/tokitae
Sign & promote our petition:
Add your personal comments addressed to Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company on our PETITION: https://chng.it/dLXqbn4LJ6
TWEETSHEET: https://bit.ly/3kSOKoP
Sign PETITION from Animal Welfare Institute: “Tell Secretary Vilsack - Tokitae Needs Help NOW!” “Several of the problems at MSQ represent blatant and extreme infractions of the regulations governing care and handling of captive marine mammals. Yet MSQ still has its USDA license to operate and hold these animals.” https://awionline.org/compassion-index#/396
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Peggy Oki, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director
Further information about Tokitae/Lolita: www.origamiwhalesproject.org/lolita
INVITE/JOIN our “16425 Days A Slave” campaign (of the Origami Whales Project) FB group for Tokitae/Lolita to return home, and to save the Endangered Southern Resident Orcas, including her mother (Ocean Sun), family (L Pod)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/origamiwhalesproject
If in Miami area on weekend(s) please join Miami Seaquarium Weekly Demos, every Sunday from 12-2pm: https://bit.ly/3bqD8VJ
SOURCES:
