Petition: Send Lolita, a 55-Year-Old Orca, from a Small Tank to a Sea Sanctuary!

Just over 50 years ago, on August 8, 1970, a 4-year-old wild orca named Lolita was caught off the coast of Washington, and torn away from her family and ocean home. Shortly after, on September 14, 1970—roughly a month after her abduction, she was transported to Miami and put into the world’s smallest orca tank. Lolita has been trapped in captivity ever since then, and things have taken a turn for the worse.

Lolita is reportedly gravely ill, meaning it is more important than ever that she be transported to an environment where she can joyfully thrive, especially if the end of her life is near. Lolita, like so many animals caught in the wild and forced into zoos and aquariums, has spent the vast majority of her life confined into a much smaller space than her natural ocean habitat. Like other whales and dolphins, Lolita is extremely intelligent and social, but given her captivity, has only been able to interact with one other Orca.

Source: Holldizzle/Youtube

This poor orca isn’t even able to find shelter from the scorching Florida sun. Her cramped tank is completely exposed with nowhere to hide. She’s forced to float listlessly or swim in small, endless circles. These wild, majestic creatures should be free to swim hundreds of miles each day and dive thousands of feet below the surface in their native waters. Just like humans, animals deserve to both live and die with dignity. Sign this petition to demand that The Dolphin Company transport Lolita to a sea sanctuary while she is healthy enough to be transported!

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

• Petition: Free World’s Loneliest Orca
• Tell Aquariums to Phase Out the Use of Real Animals for Robotic Ones

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