Free Lolita campaign email updates #21 - #30
January 26, 2000 to March 17, 2001
Previous and Later Free Lolita Updates:
Free Lolita Updates #1-10 – March 1, 1999 to May 10, 1999
Free Lolita Updates #11-20 – June 1, 1999 to December 2, 1999
Free Lolita Updates #21-30 – January 26, 2000 to March 17, 2001
Free Lolita Updates #31-40 – May 1, 2001 to August 29, 2001
Free Lolita Updates #41-50 - August 31, 2001 to March 31, 2002
Free Lolita Updates #51-60 - May 14, 2002 to January 26, 2003
Free Lolita Updates #61-70 - May 4, 2003 to December 16, 2003
Free Lolita Updates #71-80 - April 20, 2004 to September 17, 2005
Free Lolita Updates #81-90 - October 25, 2005 to September 23, 2007
Free Lolita Updates #91+ - January 5, 2008 to present
Free Lolita Updates on this page:
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Free Lolita Update #30
March 17, 2001
Dear Friends of Lolita,
The Seaquarium still maintains its grip on Lolita, and the prevailing belief among the nay-sayers is still that Lolita is mentally and physically too weak to return to her home. Of course that's what they said about Keiko too, and he's like an Olympic gold medalist ready for the race these days. Read on for the latest news about Lolita, her family back home, and Keiko.
- Sewage spill threatens Seaquarium water supply
- Six newborns join Southern Resident Orca community in past two years
- Orca Captures stopped 25 years ago in Washington State
- Keiko's prospects improve for reunification with family
- Discover Magazine runs article on Southern Resident orca community
- Orca License plates proposed for Washington
- New Orca Conservancy website on the way
- Former Seaquarium show director speaks up for Lolita!
- How to replace Lolita with a mechanical whale
March 16, 2001
Sewage spill closes Key Biscayne beaches
Beaches on Key Biscayne were closed after millions of gallons of raw sewage spilled late Thursday into Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River. The Miami Seaquarium's water supply, in which all the animals swim and live, is drawn from Biscayne Bay approximately three miles from the broken sewer line.
A tugboat raked the bay bottom and split open a main sewer line. When the line was severed, an eight-foot-wide fountain of waste spewed like a geyser four feet above the surface of the water. Between seven million and 12 million gallons of sewage likely ended up in coastal waters.
Closed were Key Biscayne Beach, Crandon Beach, Hobe Beach, Windsurfer Beach and Cape Florida. All coastal waters from the Julia Tuttle Causeway south on the bay side are off-limits to swimming or fishing until further notice.
The sewage spill represents the second major rupture of a line in less than a year.
More than 25 million gallons of raw waste spewed into local waters last summer after a contractor working without a proper permit drove a piling through a sewer main June 20 at the Miami Beach Marina.
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Six newborns join Southern Resident Orca community (Lolita's extended family) in past two years
Some events just have to be celebrated and for now at least we have something to cheer about. People are looking on with great interest as the small orca population known as the Southern Resident Community gains and loses members. Unlike any other mammal known to science, orcas born into the Southern Resident community remain members of their extended family for life, so no orcas will migrate in to join the Southern Residents. Losses of the past few years are still far in excess of new arrivals, but a recent wave of new orca babies is lifting spirits and hopes for the health of J, K, and L pods.
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ORCA CAPTURES STOPPED 25 YEARS AGO
Thursday, March 8th marked the 25th anniversary of the last orca capture in Puget Sound or Washington waters. In March 1976, when Don Goldsberry set out to capture orcas to sell to marine parks across the country, he made a few mistakes. The capture operation took place in Budd Inlet, in full view of the capitol in Olympia, and at a time when the Evergreen State College was hosting an International Orca Symposium. And former Secretary of State Ralph Munro (then working for Gov. Dan Evans) and his wife Karen just happened to be out sailing the day of the captures, resulting in their life-long devotion to saving orcas, beginning with a demand to immediately stop the captures.
Six whales were captured and kept in a pen in Budd Inlet, while it was determined whether they were of the right size and age to be transported to marine parks. But all did not proceed as Goldsberry had hoped. From the March 9, 1976 edition of the Seattle P-I:
Meanwhile, a political storm was brewing over the capture operation. Senator Warren G. Magnusen said “apparently this man has a valid permit. But there ain’t gonna be any more. This is the end. If I have my way, this is the end.
Elliot Marks, special assistant to Gov. Dan Evans on natural resources, said the governor objects to such capture operations and he has been opposed to Goldberry’s permits in the past.”
Hundreds of people met and planned protests, and the wheels began to turn to set the orcas free. Noted orca researchers such as Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research, and Paul Spong and Michael Bigg from Canada, were there to speak out for the whales. These researchers were just beginning to understand the population and social dynamics of orcas, but they had learned enough to realize they shouldn’t be captured and held in aquariums solely for financial gain and the pleasure of the public.
The Seattle P-I article states: “The capture of the six whales represents a 10 per cent reduction in the Sound’s killer whale population, said UW ecology student April Brooks. This could seriously threaten the ability of the herd to maintain itself, she said.
Ms. Brooks urged the audience to speak out in favor of the Sound as a whale sanctuary. “We want to make certain that nothing like this ever happens again in Puget Sound,” she said.”
During the captures of the 1960’s and ‘70’s, 45 orcas were taken and delivered to marine parks from the Southern Resident orca community (J, K and L pods), with at least a dozen additional whales being killed during capture operations. This had to have a significant impact on the community, which is actually a large extended family. Had they not lost such a high percentage of their population 25 years ago, they would most likely be better able to survive the stresses they face in today’s world.
And out of all the orcas captured in Washington, only one remains alive today. “Lolita”, or “Tokitae”, captured off Whidbey Island in 1970, has been performing at the Miami Seaquarium in a small tank for over 30 years, thousands of miles away from her home and pod. Efforts to free Lolita and bring her back home to her family continue, while Free Willy’s "Keiko" is in Iceland, poised to be the first long-term captive orca to be released back into the wild. There is time to undo the wrongs of the past, and to help both wild and captive orcas, but we need to do it now, before it’s too late.
Lolita is one of the oldest captive orcas in the world, and is living on borrowed time, already well past the normal life expectancy for captive orcas. But in the wild, she could live to be 60 or 70 years old, and have a calf or two, which would be an important addition to her troubled pod back home. For conservation reasons alone, Lolita needs to return to her family. There is much to be done to help the orcas, our oceans, and ourselves.
Bacground information on the registration flyer for the First International Orca Symposium includes:
The killer whales (Orcinus orca) as well as other marine mammals once ranged all months of the year in northwest waters. Orcas, largest members of the dolphin family, are found in all oceans of the world, but they have never been numerous. Orcas have been hunted for more than a decade in the interest of science and public display. British Columbia has called a moratorium on further captures.
Are marine mammals in Puget Sound threatened? What is the status of the world’s great whales? The possibilities of a marine mammal sanctuary in Puget Sound will be a major focus of this Symposium.
25 years later, we’re still asking many of the same questions. There currently is a petition being readied to list the Southern Resident community of orcas as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, after their population dropped from 98 to 81 in five years. The threats to orcas today include the precipitous decline of salmon, their main diet; the damaging effects of PCB’s and other pollutants in their ocean habitat; and increasing impacts from human population growth and vessel traffic.
Marine Protected Areas are being established in San Juan and other counties, and an “Orca Pass International Stewardship Area” is being proposed for waters on the border of the U.S. and Canada. There are huge efforts to save endangered salmon and restore streams and estuaries, and the impacts of boat traffic are being studied. But it is clear we need to do more, and do it now, if we want to continue to experience the thrill of seeing pods of orcas swimming in our Washington waters.
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Keiko's prospects for reunification with his family turn brighter with each Icelandic day!
Following is Ocean Futures' report for March, 2001
Today, snow is still falling over Klettsvik Bay in Vestmannaeyjar and the nights are still longer than the days, but the time to take Keiko back out to the open ocean and whales is fast approaching.
The animal care team on site this month have initiated a regime to vary Keiko's routine. His exercise sessions are on no set schedule, his training program again includes preparation for open ocean walks and his feeding is being varied to prepare him for gorging and fasting that is common among free ranging killer whales.
Five hundred miles of open ocean walks during last summer, the first ever ocean walks for a captive orca, taught us a great deal. We know Keiko is comfortable in the open sea. After fifteen encounters with his own species, we know that he approaches them. In human terms, he appears curious.
What we have learned is that Keiko can do just fine in the open ocean. Our challenge this spring and summer is to provide him with every opportunity to be in contact with other whales and to interact at his own pace. With this goal in mind, we are taking steps to give our team the equipment to stay at sea for extended time without coming back to the harbor. Last summer, the need for food, shelter and fuel brought us back to the bay and Keiko's enclosure. This field season we're putting Keiko in charge.
We will base the team on a ship at sea, provisioned with supplies for the team and Keiko. Our walk boat will deploy from the ship as well as from shore. Our aerial monitoring will be able to take place from the ship enabling us to track whales over a much greater distance from Vestmannaeyjar. The research programs - photo identification, time/depth recorder studies, genetic sampling, acoustics and aerial surveys - will all be able to proceed from our ocean research platform. Every tool for monitoring and tracking Keiko as well as free-ranging whales will be on board.
With this plan, we expect to markedly increase the amount of time Keiko is near his cohorts. We expect to allow him the opportunity to acclimate to other whales without our needs requiring a return to harbor. And, we expect that Keiko will show us more about reintroduction than we know.
DISCOVER MAGAZINE ARTICLE ON SOUTHERN RESIDENT COMMUNITY ORCAS
There's an informative article on the Southern Resident Community of orcas in the February issue of "Discover" magazine. It's titled "Sea Sick" & focuses on the decline of the So. Resident Community's population & the factors contributing to it - A well written article that brings the facts home, & will certainly help spread the word about our orca neighbors. The point unfortunately not mentioned in the article is that Lolita is needed by her family to add to their numbers and very likely to add a new calf or two.
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ORCA LICENSE PLATES PROPOSED FOR WASHINGTON STATE
Three students from Snohomish High School (north of Seattle) sponsored a bill to get the orca whale on the Washington State Plate. The money raised would go to research and preservation of the dwindling Southern Resident Community. Similar plates have raised millions in Florida for Manatees, dolphins and sea turtles.
Representative John Lovick sponsored their bill and Rep. Aaron Reardon
co-sponsored it after listening to the presentation.
Please let your local representative/senator know if you would like them
to support this bill (it is in the process of being assigned a number)
Find their email addresses.
Let the two reps and the three senators below know you support the bill.
lovick_jo@leg.wa.gov
reardon_aa@leg.wa.gov
mcdonald_da@leg.wa.gov
fraser_ka@leg.wa.gov
oke_bo@leg.wa.gov
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NEW ORCA CONSERVANCY WEBSITE COMING SOON!
Work is progresing on the debut of the new Orca Conservancy website. Friends of Lolita will be notified as soon as it's ready for unveiling!
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FORMER SEAQUARIUM SHOW DIRECTOR SPEAKS UP FOR LOLITA!
A former Seaquarium trainer named Michael Royce testified to the USDA in 1978, and was promised a new tank would be built soon.
Royce writes:
What an incredible blessing to have found your site!! In 1976, I was the Show Director at the Miami Seaquarium and had the pleasure of working with both Hugo and Lolita. I can go and on with many stories about these two whales and the amazing things they did (and the not so nice things they did such as attack trainers). They have both remained in my hearts this many years later.
In the late 1970's, I testified at a Federal USDA hearing concerning proposed regulations for whale tanks and captive whales. I flew to Washington, DC at my own expense to meet with the Fed at the USDA who was responsible for enforcing these regulations. I pleaded with him to do something about Hugo & Toki's (Lolita's) tank. He assured me that (1) the tank clearly did NOT meet Federal regulations and (2) the Seaquarium will have to do something about it. So the Seaquarium promised it would build a bigger tank (this was in 1978 or so!!!). So case closed, I thought. Problem solved. Now, twenty-something years later, Toki is still in her little tank and the Seaquarium is STILL promising a bigger tank - and the only thing that has changed is now there are lots of people like you folks screaming and yelling about this instead of only me doing it myself. So thank you!!!!!
LET'S REPLACE LOLITA WITH A MECHANICAL WHALE!!
Although they continue to display live orcas captured from their families, Japanese aquarium moves a step closer to replacing captive orcas with special effects.
A team of designers from Michigan has built a 15-foot robot orca for the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in Japan.
The robotic killer whale, worth about $500,000, will next be shipped to Mannetron Inc. in Battle Creek. There, workers will install motors to allow the robot to give the appearance of swimming. The next step will be fitting the whale with its trademark white-and-black "skin."
Chief engineer Peter Jungen analyzed videotape of a live whale to come up with the design. The skeletal shape was built with the help of companies including Airway Welding, Pyro-Tech Tool Treating, Condad Heat Treat, Production Tool Supply in Jackson and YMT International and Caster Concepts in Albion.
The finished whale will go into an exhibit near the aquarium's live whale. The exhibit aims to educate people on a whale's anatomy, the birthing process and how it moves as it swims, Jungen said. Holographic images beamed behind the whale will give viewers the impression that the mammal is swimming through water, he said.
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Free Lolita Update #29
January 15, 2001
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Efforts to bring Lolita home to her family in the Pacific NW continue on several fronts. The Animal Legal Defense Fund (http//www.aldf.org/) has uncovered new legal angles that along with other developments show promise. As with most legal matters however, we can't give out a lot of details just yet.
Keiko is steadily progressing toward freedom and reunification with his family in the North Atlantic. According to Jeff Foster of Ocean Futures "As the days start to get longer we are all very excited and optimistic about the spring and summer field season. We can hardly wait for the day when the weather breaks and we can start taking Keiko out on ocean walks again."
The new web site for Orca Conservancy (formerly the Tokitae Foundation) will be up and running within a few weeks, with many new capabilities such as daily orca news briefs, streaming video, a reader's forum ("ask Orca Conservancy") sightings map and a variety of other innovative items. The site will include a vast array of orca-related knowledge, legend and lore. We'll let you know the launch date.
Here's more exciting news
* Another new orca baby discovered in J pod! Many sightings around Puget Sound recently.
* Singing to the orcas - Lolita's family to appear on Sixty Minutes II - Tuesday night, Jan 16.
***
See the Seattle Post-Intelligencer news report on the new J pod baby.
The new calf, designated J-37, is the first of the millenium, and the third in the past year. Here's the Orca Conservancy press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Kelley Balcomb-Bartok (360) 378-3557 or cell 360-317-4609
Or Susan Berta or Howard Garrett (360) 678-3451
SAN JUAN ISLANDS (January 11, 2001)
The third newborn killer whale in the past year was spotted Wednesday in the San Juan Islands, raising hopes for recovery of the Southern resident orca community that has decreased by over 15% in the past five years.
The new J pod baby, designated J-37, was determined to be the calf of 26-year-old J-14, named Samish. J pod is one of the three pods that frequent the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia, together known as the Salish Sea. J-37 is Samish's third known calf. Her first calf died in 1991 at the age of four. Her second calf, a male, is now six years old.
The baby whale was still orange from birth and had fetal folds, which means it was born in the last 10 days, said Kelley Balcomb-Bartok of Orca Conservancy, an orca advocacy group.
Southern community orcas are known to be highly contaminated by persistent toxic chemicals, which are passed directly to newborn calves in their mother's milk, especially endangering the first calves. Researchers hope that since this is J-14's third calf it is relatively free of toxins.
In early November a calf was born to fifteen-year-old K-16, named Opus, a member of K pod. It was her first known calf and at last report was doing well. In late 1999 J-16 gave birth to J-36, her third calf. Whale researchers are watching closely to see if the new calves survive their precarious early months.
Since 1995, the orca community declined from 98 animals down to 81 earlier this year, as deaths outnumbered births. The three recent births bring the population back up to 84.
In the past month orcas have been seen on numerous occasions from Nisqually to Lummi Island. On December 24 all three pods converged near Tacoma Narrows for a superpod greeting, with the pods intermingling in small groups along with a variety of ritualized behaviors. On New Years day L pod was seen along the northwest side of Whidbey Island, while J and K pods were off the southeast side exiting Saratoga Passage. Orcas typically travel 75-100 miles per day.
Balcomb-Bartok said "With the new calves, I am hopeful there could be some rebound. We need every little upturn we can get."
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Singing to the orcas - Lolita's family to appear on Sixty Minutes II - Tuesday night, Jan 16.
Orcas seem to have an uncanny way of knowing when we are thinking about them. "The Orcas Sing," a salty serenade to killer whales by a Seattle choir, is scheduled for broadcast on "60 Minutes II" on Tuesday night.
Last summer, the City Cantabile Choir went to San Juan Island to sing for the orcas through an underwater speaker system.
"The whole point was to bring people's attention to the plight of orca whales," said Fred West, director of the 20-member choir. For the event, West said he composed "Songs for the Sea," a suite drawing on maritime traditions.
The singers were delighted when a pod of orcas showed up for the performance, splashing and "singing" back. The show was dedicated to J-18, known as Everett, a young male whale that had recently died and washed ashore; it was the dead male's pod that responded to the choir. The program is scheduled to be shown nationwide Tuesday evening on CBS.
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Free Lolita Update #28
December 13, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Here's some news and notes for the Holiday Season
~ New baby born to "K-pod"
~ New historic photos of "Hugo" at the Miami Seaquarium on our website
~ Remember our Orca friends during your holiday giving
~ Thanks to Washington Secretary of State, Friend of the whales (he also knows how to count election votes!)
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Happy Birthday to K-32!
We're happy to announce the birth of a baby orca in Lolita's extended family. In early November a small subgroup of K pod was seen traveling with J pod, and alongside 15-year-old K16 (Opus) was her first known calf, given the scientific name K32. Mother and baby have been seen several times since that first report, apparently doing just fine.
J pod and K pod and at least some members of L pod have been cruising Puget Sound just off Seattle for much of the past month, even down as far as Olympia. At this time of year large runs of chum salmon and other species are streaming into hundreds of creeks and rivers in the south Sound. As they mill about preparing for the perilous journey upstream and adapting to fresh water, they present a smorgasbord of tasty treats for resident orcas.
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"Hugo" photos now on the web
We have just received some amazing photos taken 21 years ago of Hugo, the young male orca captured from Lolita's family about 18 months before Lolita was captured. He lived until 1980 when he was approximately 15 years old.
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Remember and support your Orca friends this holiday season
As we approach the end of the year and holiday season, we ask you to please keep our orca friends in mind as you make up your gift and giving lists. For your orca-loving friends and family, why not give a gift of beautiful orca calls? Visit our FreeLolita.net website, at http//www.freelolita.net/merch.html, where you can purchase unique gifts such as our cd or tape of orca calls, and "Free Lolita" T-shirts or bumper stickers. Or for those who already have enough "stuff", make a gift donation to Orca Conservancy or other whale organizations in their name. Those who love whales, and loathe getting yet another tie or fruitcake, would be thrilled to know that the gift they receive is an important and lasting one.
Orca Conservancy is a non-profit 501-c3 organization dedicated to providing education, conservation and research to help our orca neighbors. Your contributions, whether for a gift or for tax deduction purposes, will help fund projects such as
~ Orca education programs for schools, community groups, and conferences
~The Free Lolita Campaign, or "Tokitae Project"
~San Juan Theodolite Study, assessing the impact of increased boat traffic on orcas
~Volunteer network to track whales in Puget Sound
~Publications and presentations on the interconnectedness between orcas, salmon, and our fresh and marine water ecosystems
~Multimedia and public outreach efforts
Efforts continue to turn the tide of public opinion and arrange for Lolita to return home to be with her family. We'll be following Keiko's progress as he is taken out on ocean "walks" beginning early in the spring to search for his family.
There is hope for Lolita, and for her family here in Puget Sound, if we all work together to right the wrongs we have committed in the past. It is time to let our orca neighbors know they are valued, loved, and cared for. The alternative is a future without the majestic, magnificent sight of those mighty dorsal fins plowing the waterways of Puget Sound, and this is not an alternative any of us wish to consider. Thank you for your continued support!
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Thanks to Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro, Friend of the Whales!
A huge gala event was recently held in Seattle to honor retiring Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro, and it was no ordinary "political" event, as Ralph is no ordinary politician or person! Ralph is known as a most devout whale-lover, and was largely responsible for stopping orca captures in Puget Sound in the 1970's. Ralph and his wife Karen have continued their efforts to help the whales - both wild and captive, and we have been thrilled to have Ralph on the Board of Orca Conservancy for years. Ralph's love of orcas was reflected throughout the night of his party, from orca ice sculptures to "whale tales", and the announcement that the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission has decided to name an overlook in the newly re-vamped Lime Kiln/Whale Watch Park on San Juan Island after Ralph, in honor of his dedication to the whales. What an honor, for a very honorable man! And even more honorable, but not surprising - we found out the next day that "L-pod" (Lolita's family) had been seen that same day in Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, just a few blocks from where Ralph's event was held! Maybe they were swimming by with a special thank-you to Ralph for all he's done for Lolita & the whales??!!
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Best wishes to all for the holidays and the coming new year. May the year 2001 bring freedom for Lolita, and good health and abundant salmon to her family here in Puget Sound. Thank you for keeping Lolita and her family in your thoughts and in your hearts, and for all your support and encouragement~
Howard Garrett
Susan Berta
Orca Conservancy
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Free Lolita Update #27
October 15, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
First we want to thank all those who sent letters to the Miami Herald and Mayor Penelas about the recent dolphin deaths at the Seaquarium. Nothing is certain yet, but there may be more to come in that story.
Some items have come up that many of you might be interested in.
* "Cry of the Orcas" on KOMO TV, Seattle, Tuesday, October 17 at 9 PM
* Plans to take Keiko out to meet his family in early spring
* Plight of the southern community of orcas is featured on MSNBC
* "Cry of the Orcas"
KOMO/ABC TV in Seattle will air a special documentary called "The Cry of the Orcas" on Tuesday night at 9PM. Although it will only be seen in the Seattle area, just knowing it will be on is important because it is going to be the most comprehensive treatment yet produced of the true natural history of the orcas that make up Lolita's family.
It will emphasize recent scientific discoveries such as the lifetime bonds between all members of the Southern resident orca community, the social events and greeting ceremonies. Reviews say that Lolita will be mentioned in depth as a member in good standing of her family, regardless of 30 years of separation. Her importance as a potentially reproductive female to help replenish her family after the recent mortalities will also be discussed.
All in all, this documentary sounds like a landmark event in the public's awareness of the amazing capabilities of the species and Lolita's unique role if she is allowed to rejoin her family.
*Keiko out in early spring
In a recent statement Ocean Futures announced plans to take Keiko for longer ocean walks beginning in early spring.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
October 11, 2000 Valerie Bohonus
(805) 899-8899 X101
KEIKO’S WINTER ‘QUARTERS’ REINFORCED IN ADVANCE OF CONTINUED SPRING 2001 REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS
Quotes
"In the early Spring, weather permitting, Keiko will continue a series of ocean walks designed to continue his reintroduction to the wild."
"In early spring we will move into a new phase of our program where we intend to be with Keiko on the open ocean for extended periods with the help of a more suitable ocean going research vessel."
* Plight of the southern orca community
Below is the URL for a recent MSNBC story on the well-being of the southern community. Though much of the story concerns boat/whale interactions, it makes it clear that the most effective way to ensure that orcas remain in Washington waters is to devote our full energies to restoring salmon to provide adequate food. Click here for the MSNBC story.
Headline
Pacific Northwest orcas are a magnet for tourists but the "southern resident" population has declined from 98 five years ago to 82 today.
‘Endangered’ help sought for orcas
Scientists cite sharp drop in Pacific Northwest population
By Miguel Llanos - MSNBC
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Free Lolita Update #26
October 9, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Anonymous sources have alerted us to the recent deaths of three dolphins at the Seaquarium. One dolphin died two months ago by plastic ingestion and two died last week supposedly due to an airborne fungus. As Carl Dortch, head of Lolita's Legions, writes Please, I urge you, write, fax, call...whatever it takes. Write to the Miami Herald and express your feelings. Let them know this is not acceptable and it's time they start putting the welfare of the animals held there over their own greed."
I urge you to contact the Miami Herald (HeraldEd@herald.com), and also Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas (mayor@metro-dade.com) to express our alarm at these deaths and our demand that Lolita be reunited with her family in Washington.
It's important to understand the defensive fortress the Seaquarium has become. Employees at the Seaquarium are run by fear and falsehoods. Pay is low, morale is very low and turnover is very high. That's why we receive so many leaks. I'm sure there is a witchhunt on now to weed out the sources of the above information.
I don't know the veterinarian quoted in the Herald story below, but past veterinarians have seemed eager to prostitute themselves to suit Arthur Hertz, the owner. His son Andrew now monitors employees at the park. Mr. Hertz tells complete fabrications to his employees and they repeat them back to him, so he believes his own lies. Even Dr. Greg Bossart, the esteemed vet who sometimes speaks for the Seaquarium, has said outright falsehoods in print to please Mr. Hertz. For instance, he claimed that identification of Lolita's family is "based on guesswork," despite over two decades of respected photo-identification research on Lolita's family, the Southern Resident community. Dr. Bossart also stated in a scientific paper that Keiko had contracted a "presumptive viral disease," which was proven false by a panel of USDA-appointed veterinarians (see Bossart's paper here.)
Such stories fly like the litter at the Seaquarium. I've personally heard Seaquarium trainers say that Hugo, the pre-adolescent male orca who died at the Seaquarium in 1980 of a brain aneurism (according to NMFS documents) after reportedly banging his head against the wall, died of "old age."
So we need to take the "airborne fungus" theory with a large dose of salt. The Herald was told these dolphins "died after massive brain hemorrhages." One has to wonder what really caused the brain damage.
Since 1994, when a sudden lobbying blitz by the Alliance of Marine Parks and Aquariums removed oversight of captive cetaceans from NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) there has been no requirement to record deaths or causes of death of captive cetaceans on any public record. Thus marine parks are free to say whatever they want, or nothing at all. If there hadn't been leaks from the Seaquarium there wouldn't have ever been a newspaper story about the recent deaths.
So please continue to demand Lolita's return to her home and family, but as the old saying goes, don't believe everything you read in the papers. We'll keep you posted. Below is the story from the Miami Herald.
October 6, 2000
Miami Herald
Rare disease kills two Seaquarium dolphins
BY CHARLES RABIN
crabin@herald.com
A rare airborne fungus has killed two full-grown Atlantic Ocean bottlenose dolphins in captivity at Miami Seaquarium in the past two weeks.
Though officials at the Biscayne Bay tourist attraction say they don't believe there is any immediate threat to other animals at the facility -- such as whales, sea lions or other dolphins -- they are keeping a watchful eye.
All the mammals have been given a broad spectrum of antibiotics and antifungals.
Workers have increased the amount of chlorine in the Flipper Lagoon, where the two dolphins would jump and frolic for tourists.
Cookie, a 9-year-old male, died Sept. 25. Tori, a 10-year-old female died six days later. Both died after massive brain hemorrhages.
``This [fungus] goes right into the blood vessels and will cause
bleeding,'' said Seaquarium veterinarian Dr. Maya Dougherty.
No one seems to have any clue where the fungus called Apophysomyces zygomycetes came from. It's generally found in soil.
Although the fungus incubates for six to eight weeks, both mammals --
born in captivity at the Seaquarium -- only began to show signs of labored breathing 10 to 12 hours before they died.
``At that point both showed signs of some sort of paralysis,'' said Andrew Hertz, the Seaquarium director of marketing.
A necropsy showed both died of the same disease.
Dougherty said she heard of a similar case in a park near the Florida Panhandle about five years ago.
The disease is also known to affect dolphins in the wild.
``It's not common at all,'' she said. ``But it's been seen.''
Hertz said it's unlikely Seaquarium officials will ever find out where the fungus came from.
``It's something that could have been picked up in Texas and brought over the Gulf for all we know,'' he said. ``It's something that can be carried in strong winds, like what we've had for the past while.''
END
In other news, on September 17 Orca Conservancy, as the Tokitae Foundation has renamed itself, held a full day of events on San Juan Island, in the heart of the habitat of Lolita's family, the Southern Resident community. First were a series of "State of the Pods" addresses delivered at Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island. Assessments of the condition of the habitat and the health of the orca community were delivered by Secretary of State Ralph Munro, Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research, Whale Museum science curator Rich Osborn, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, and Howard Garrett. Ken Balcomb was awarded a certificate to honor and commemorate his 25 years of continual field research on the Southern Resident community.
Later that afternoon a panel discussion was conducted to discuss a variety of viewpoints concerning the health and well-being of the Southern community. Moderating duties were performed admirably by Sec. Munro. A wide range of experts presented their perspectives on how best to restore the biological productivity of the inland waters and reduce stress on the whales. A complete video and audio record of this event will be available soon.
The panel was followed by a "Ralph Roast" to show appreciation for Sec. Ralph Munro's long history of untiring efforts to help the Southern community in any way possible.
***
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Free Lolita Update #25
August 26, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Much has transpired in the past few weeks.
- Hugely successful August 8 capture anniversary event
- August 8 demo in Miami by ARFF
- Upcoming Orca Conservancy event on San Juan Island
- Keiko reported meeting with free orcas, catching 100% of his food
- Seattle Times "Pacific Northwest" article on orcas
- Seattle's KING5 TV Evening Magazine runs "Lolita" segment
- Dolphin "Pearl" dies at Seaquarium from litter ingestion
- Vigga dies at 22 years of age at Marine World, CA
- Op-ed on orcas, pollution, salmon and boats
- Report from Workshop on Southern Residents
The August 8 benefit event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the capture of Lolita and her family members at Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, was a great success. Orca Conservancy hosted the event to remember the trauma and tragedy of that and other captures, and to support renewed efforts to bring Lolita home. The event was a mix of music, humor, talks, ceremony and a silent auction. Around 150 people joined in support of Lolita's return to home and family, offering hope and help with our efforts to spread the word about Lolita and her family in Puget Sound. The benefit also raised much needed funds to sustain Orca Conservancy's educational programs and the Lolita campaign. We are still receiving contributions from far and wide, and greatly appreciate the outpouring of help from dedicated people all over the world.
Elected officials present at the event included Sec. of State Ralph and Karen Munro, Cong. Jack Metcalf, Washington State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, State Representatives Dave Anderson and Kelly Barlean, Island County Commissioners Bill Thorn and Mac McDowell, Island County Treasurer Maxine Sauter, Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair, and Friday Harbor Port Commissioner Brian Calvert. As the Whidbey News-Times so succinctly put it "Ironically the owner of the Seaquarium has said the movement to free Lolita was led by environmental radicals." Dave Howitt brought the Corky/Lolita Freedom Bus and decorated the grounds around the Captain Whidbey Inn with colorful banners from the bus.
In addition to a pre-event press sail with many of the above, Capt. John Stone of the Capt. Whidbey Inn offered sailboat rides on the Cutty Sark. A wonderful variety of songs by Karl and Deb Lund and friends and an ensemble led by Lynn Wedekind set the tone for the event, marked by the tossing of a wreath near the capture site by Sec. Munro, to remember those whales lost in captures and at marine parks.
Meanwhile, in Miami, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) held a demonstration at the Seaquarium on the 30th anniversary of Lolita's capture as well. They reported a good turn out for a weekday, and that nearly every media source in Dade County was there, as well as the AP. Unfortunately, there was an oil spill off of the coast of Florida that same day, so the story of the demonstration was covered only by Channels 4 and 6, and talk radio 610, which is a good showing for a busy news day.
Orca Conservancy (formerly Tokitae Foundation) will sponsor multiple events San Juan Island on September 17, to raise awareness of Lolita's family, the Southern Resident community. Details will be sent to you in a few days.
Ocean Futures reports that Keiko has encountered several groups of free-ranging orcas off the coast of Iceland, sometimes coming "within inches" of them before turning back toward the research vessel. Acoutstic recordings were made of the encounters for future analysis, and no hostility was observed during any of the meetings. Presumably the whales Keiko has found so far have not been close kin so it would be unlikely that he would join with them. Ocean Futures reports that "some days Keiko eats 100 percent of his diet in live fish" indicating he is capable of feeding himself at sea. Unfortunately, unless Keiko finds his family within a few weeks, winter weather may not permit further "ocean walks" to bring Keiko into contact with other orcas.
The August 13th edition of Pacific Northwest magazine (the Sunday Seattle Times insert) contains a cover story that is an excellent treatment of the history and current condition of the Southern Resident orca community, Lolita's extended family. Some of the astounding scientific findings and many illuminating anecdotes are told in the story.
On August 15th, Seattle's KING 5 Evening Magazine re-ran a story they did on Lolita 5 years ago, and though it was quite outdated, they did mention our August 8th event and the fact that efforts to free Lolita are still underway and gaining momentum. They also mentioned our websites, & have links to them from their website.
Other news on the dangers of captivity...
"Pearl", a dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium, recently became ill & died after ingesting a plastic cup littering her pool, called the "Topdeck."
On a sad note, "Vigga", a 23 year old orca captured from Iceland about the same time Keiko was captured, died at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, CA, from a heart condition and lung infection on August 14th. Vigga lived less than half the normal life-span for wild orcas, as do most captive whales. For more about Vigga, by Paul Spong and Helena Symonds, go to Orcalab
We need to get Lolita home before one of these sad fates of captivity befall her...
Many of you have expressed concern about overall health of the Southern Resident community, Lolita's family, due to the recent decline in the population from 98 to 81 individuals in the past five years. Since spring only K4 has been reported missing and presumed to have died, leaving the community holding steady at 81 members in their Pacific Ocean habitat, plus Lolita, still held captive in Miami.To see an op-ed written by Howard Garrett on the current environmental situation facing the Southern Resident community, Lolita's clan, see the Seattle P-I.
For a look at the report from National Marine Fisheries Service on the killer whale workshop held April 1-2, 2000, go to National Marine Fisheries Service. Acrobat Reader is required to access this file.
More news as it happens! Thank you for your interest and support.
***
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Free Lolita Update #24
July 23, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
We're glad to report that Lolita appears to remain in good health as she performs daily in the smallest orca tank in North America at the Seaquarium.
On Friday, July 14, WTVJ/NBC TV in Miami reported some recent developments about Keiko and Lolita. The story broke the news that Ocean Futures, currently in the final stages of releasing Keiko to his Icelandic habitat, offered to buy Lolita for rehabilitation toward release in her home waters. Seaquarium says they never looked at the offer. The story mentioned that Lolita could still have a baby or two and help restore the So. Resident orca community if returned to her family.
Special note to supporters in the Miami area: The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) is planning a demonstration at the Seaquarium at Noon on August 8. For more information contact ARFF at arffmain@aol.com.
The following letter just went out to hundreds of Lolita supporters. It pretty well says it all.
Please consider youselves invited to the...
Lolita Come Home! benefit event
Remembering the capture of Lolita and her family members.
Lolita is an orca whale, captured in Penn Cove August 8, 1970.
She has survived the last 30 years in her small tank at the
Miami Seaquarium, performing daily, and waiting to come home.
You are invited to join us
Tuesday, August 8, 2000
5 - 10 p.m.
at the Captain Whidbey Inn
Coupeville - Whidbey Island, WA
Special Guest Speaker Sec. of State Ralph Munro
Waterside Ceremony - Presentations
Gourmet Appetizers - Decadent Desserts
Entertainment - Silent Auction - Displays
Sunset Sails aboard the Cutty Sark
Event Tickets $15 - Cutty Sark Sails $15
Call (360) 678-3451 or email susanb@whidbey.net for more information.
For overnight accomodations at the historic Captain Whidbey Inn, call
(360) 678-4097
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 2000
Orca Conservancy, formerly the Tokitae Foundation, is pleased to announce
several upcoming events concerning the orcas of the Southern Resident
Community; both those living in the wild, and Lolita, or "Tokitae," who
has been performing daily at the Miami Seaquarium for the past three
decades, 4,000 miles away from her home in Puget Sound.
Though the name has changed, the mission of Orca Conservancy remains the
same to inform the general public about the grace and capabilities of
Orcinus orca, to communicate scientific knowledge of the species, and to
actively protect the whales' natural habitats. Further, Orca Conservancy is
committed to raising awareness concerning whales and dolphins in captivity,
and to exploring the feasibility of returning captive cetaceans to their
natural habitats.
For many people, a love of our resident orcas opens eyes and allows a
dramatic and memorable glimpse into nature. Along with salmon, the whales
increasingly symbolize the value of Northwest ecosystems. Orca Conservancy
is dedicated to enhancing awareness of the natural links between orcas and
the full panorama of life forms and processes that make up the ecosystem of
the Pacific Northwest.
In recent years and months, much has been happening to bring more
attention to orca whales around the world, both captive and wild. Keiko,
the Free Willy movie-star whale, is back home in Iceland where he was
captured over 20 years ago, now swimming in the open ocean under a
carefully controlled rehabilitation and release program, poised on the
brink of total freedom. Keiko's story inspires and propels efforts underway
to free Lolita, who lives alone at the Miami Seaquarium in the smallest
orca tank in the United States. A diverse and growing movement is afoot to
give Lolita the same opportunity as Keiko, to return her to her family in
Puget Sound, whose calls she still uses even after 30 years away from home.
And not only does Lolita need her family, they need her, too. The
population of the Southern Resident Community of orcas (J, K and L pods)
has decreased from 98 to 81 individuals over the past five years. It is
believed the stress of decreased salmon runs, increased boat traffic, and
the effects of PCBs ingested by these "urban" orcas are all contributing to
this decline. The orca captures of the 1960s and '70s also had a great
impact on the population, removing many individuals from an entire
generation. All have died in captivity, except for Lolita. But it is not
hopeless.
Historically, there have been decreases in orca populations that match
the fluctuations in salmon population, and the forecast is for an upward
cycle in salmon runs over the next few years. There are also widespread
effects of listing salmon under the Endangered Species Act, bringing
awareness and attention to the importance of salmon to the entire
ecosystem, and focusing on solutions to the problems we've created for the
creatures living in our watershed and ocean habitats. And if Lolita returns
to her family, she would be a healthy female of reproductive age, who could
bring some welcome new orca calves to this population at a time when they
are needed the most.
On this 30th anniversary of Lolita's capture, we ask you to take a moment
to think about what her life has been like these past three decades at the
Miami Seaquarium. Think also of her family, the Southern Resident
Community, and of the challenges we have created for them. And please do
what you can to help, in whatever way you can, to make life better for our
whale neighbors.
We hope you can join us for the August 8th event at the Captain Whidbey
Inn, or for one of our upcoming Fall events. These include a San Juan
Island Orca Education Event and "Ralph Roast" for Secretary of State Ralph
Munro, and several panel discussions on the issue of listing the Southern
Resident Community as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. For
more information, please contact
Orca Conservancy
Phone (360) 678-3451
2403 S. North Bluff Road
Greenbank, WA 98253
Orca Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
education, conservation and research to help our orca neighbors. If you
would like to help us help the whales, please consider making a
tax-deductible donation, or donating items for the August 8th auction. Your
donation to Orca Conservancy will help fund projects such as
~ Orca education programs for schools, community groups, and conferences
~ The Free Lolita campaign
~ The San Juan Theodolite Study, assessing the impact of increased boat
traffic on orcas
~ A Volunteer network to track whales in and around Island County
~ Publications and presentations to raise awareness about the
interconnectedness between orcas, salmon, and our fresh and marine water
ecosystems
~ Media and public outreach efforts
There is hope for Lolita, and for her family here in Puget Sound, if we
all work together to right the wrongs we have committed in the past. It is
time to let our orca neighbors know they are valued, loved, and cared for.
The alternative is a future without the majestic, magnificent sight of
those mighty dorsal fins plowing the waterways of Puget Sound, and this is
not an alternative any of us wish to consider. Thank you for your continued
support.
Sincerely,
Howard Garrett & Susan Berta
Orca Conservancy
Who is Orca Conservancy?
We are proud to introduce our Board of Directors
President Howard Garrett
Vice President Kelley Balcomb-Bartok
Secretary/Treasurer Susan Berta
Ralph Munro, Secretary of State
Michael Harris, Outpost Productions
Brian Calvert, Friday Harbor Port Commissioner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you can't join us for the Lolita Come Home Benefit on August 8th,
please help out in any way you can.
Funds are needed to sustain the campaign during this critical time,
and to educate the public about Lolita and her family,
the Southern Resident Community of J, K and L pods.
Contributions may be sent to
Orca Conservancy
2403 S. North Bluff Road
Greenbank, WA 98253
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Free Lolita Update #23
May 19, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Defying all odds, Lolita continues to perform daily at the Seaquarium. She has recently been calling out, whistling in her native dialect, both above and below the water's surface, presumably in hopes of a friendly answer from her podmates. But her family is 4,000 miles away in Washington or somewhere in the Pacific.
Back in 1980, Hugo, the pre-adolescent male orca captured in 1968 from Lolita's family, banged his head against the walls of the tank and broke a viewing window. According to one story, he was moved to the much smaller manatee tank, about 100 yards from the whale tank. For several weeks Hugo and Lolita called to each other through the air, broadcasting their siren-like whistles to the wonderment of park staff and visitors. Soon Hugo crashed one last time into the walls, and died of a brain aneurism according to official documents. Somehow Lolita carries on however, her memories and her determination to return to her home waters and family apparently still strong.
There have been several demonstrations at the Seaquarium since the last Update on Feb. 9, the last one being April 29. Plans are now underway for another demonstration to coincide with Marine Mammal Freedom Weekend (Memorial day weekend) and World Week for Captive Dolphins (July 1-8). Anyone able to join in either or both of demos please contact me. It's important to keep reminding the staff and the public in Miami that Lolita needs to be returned to her home. Events to commemorate Lolita's capture on August 8, 1970 will also take place in Washington.
The Tokitae Foundation played host to the Corky campaign on May 13 at the Penn Cove Water Festival on Whidbey Island, Washington. The Freedom Bus, with life-sized portraits of Corky on one side and Lolita on the other, was parked in the center of the festival, with the mile-long Corky banner stretched on every available fence for all to appreciate. Corky was captured from the Northern orca community in British Columbia, about a year before Lolita was captured. She currently performs daily at San Diego Sea World. Corky and Lolita are by far the oldest females to survive in captivity, though both are young adults by wild orca standards. For more on Corky you can go to www.orcalab.org.
Perhaps anticipating increasing public demand that captive orcas be returned to their homes and families, Sea World announced that Bjossa, the lone orca at the Vancouver Public Aquarium in British Columbia, would be moved to one of the Sea World parks next fall. Bjossa is another excellent candidate for release.
Keiko, star of Free Willy, is likely to experience the open ocean very soon. Construction in nearby Vestmannaeyjar Harbor will displace Keiko from his fenced off bay, at least temporarily. Please read the following press release from Ocean Futures for details. Our thoughts are with Keiko as he ventures out to ocean waters, where he was born and where his family still lives.
We'll keep this list up to date on developments concerning Lolita and the other release candidates.
For Lolita,
Howard Garrett
Tokitae Foundation
May 18, 2000
Statement by Ocean Futures Society in Light of Planned Demolition and Construction Work
in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland:
Santa Barbara, CA -- A number of rumors have emerged in recent days
regarding planned harbor construction work near Klettsvik Bay, Iceland
and its potential effect on Keiko, who currently resides in the bay.
Following are the facts of the situation.
On April 6th 2000, Ocean Futures Society learned that construction of a
pier would occur in Vestmannaeyjar Harbor as soon as April 15. The
construction would involve blasting and pile driving at a distance less
than half a mile from Keiko's bay enclosure. At this distance, the
shock waves and low-frequency vibrations from the construction work
could, in Ocean Futures Society’s judgment, pose a risk of physical harm
to Keiko.
Upon discovering the construction plans, Ocean Futures Society entered
into immediate negotiations with local officials to secure a delay in
the harbor improvements work. Officials at Vestmannaeyjar did agree to
a short-term delay, but indicated that work would need to go forward as
early as May 25. Ocean Futures Society is also actively engaged in
discussion with the Icelandic and U.S. Governments on the best strategy
for safeguarding Keiko’s well-being as construction and blasting work
gets underway.
Ocean Futures Society has been actively engaged in Keiko’s
rehabilitation and preparation for reintroduction to the wild since his
relocation to Iceland in September, 1998. This process has gone
extremely well, and Keiko is, in the judgment of his trainers and
caretakers, ready to take further steps toward reintroduction. Keiko is
eating up to 20% live fish, responds without fail to a recall signal,
and has followed a boat on command for up to 11 nautical miles. His
health is excellent.
Ocean Futures Society is now assessing all possible options for
protecting Keiko over the coming weeks. While no final decisions have
been made, one option would be to take Keiko out of his enclosed bay on
an "ocean walk"- during which he would follow a designated boat to the
open sea -- a measure for which he has undergone intensive training in
recent weeks. Keiko’s trainers have expressed confidence that his
physical stamina and willingness to follow a boat mean that the risks of
such a walk are slight, and may be far outweighed by the risks to
Keiko’s health should he be in the harbor during blasting. "Ocean
walks" have been planned from the start as a key stepping stone in the
reintroduction process.
During such a walk, Keiko would be led out of the enclosed bay that has
served as his home for the past 17 months and then back to his bay
enclosure. The duration of the walk, should this option be chosen,
would be long enough to permit the harbor authorities to complete their
blasting work and pile driving.
Ocean Futures Society’s only priority in Iceland is Keiko’s well-being.
All actions will be taken with this sole concern in mind.
--end--
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Free Lolita Update #22
February 9, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
Since the Lolita campaign was launched in March, 1995, Keiko's progress toward freedom with his natural family in the No. Atlantic has informed the public about Lolita's prospects to return to her native waters and family in the Pacific Northwest. A report published in the current Earth Island Journal (reprinted below) shows that Keiko is poised for freedom. Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute have confirmed that all through his life in captivity Keiko has been calling out in the unique dialect of the wild orcas he was forcibly removed from in 1979. His ability to communicate with his family is the key to their mutual recognition and acceptance. Lolita also still calls to her family in the native dialect she learned prior to capture.
The next demonstration for Lolita will take place in front of the Seaquarium from noon to 1 PM on February 20th.
PS: We just received word that a female orca, held in a marine park in Argentina since she was forced onto a beach and captured in 1985, died Friday, Jan 4. There are now 50 orcas in captivity worldwide, 22 of them captive born.
PPS: On January 29, at least 25 members of Lolita's family, the L25 subpod, were seen for the first time off the coast of California, near Monterey. Their visits to California may or may not be unusual. It's possible that the Dec. 14 sighting of approx. 60 orcas in the Santa Barbara Channel (reported on NBC news) may have included Lolita's family.
The eloquent preamble to the EIJ article is by Carole Koppel, a dedicated and effective advocate for Keiko, Lolita and all the other captives.
Dearest Friends,
No creature sharing our beautiful planet during our lifetime brought and still brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat more than Keiko. For not only is he majestic and beautiful of body; he is beautiful of spirit and heart. When I try to tell the story of Keiko's rescue of a child who fell into his tank unnoticed, I break down. When I remember the time his sweet face touched my fingertips through a Plexiglas barrier, I tear up.
Loving Keiko as one, then because of him loving all orcas, brought me the gift of new friends. Through them, an awareness of marine preservation so these magnificent animals can survive and remain a part of our earth's splendor.
Keiko's recovery from a captive situation that was pathetically inadequate and his subsequent adaptation to the wild, is a signpost most commercial theme parks holding wild orcas captive in small tanks would like to ignore.
But their logic is flawed and their days are numbered. Keiko is setting a precedent that will not be ignored and as he works his way towards true freedom, he is the first, but not the last formerly captive orca to live free.
***
Earth Island Journal
Spring 2000 Vol 15, No 1
Keiko, the orca star of Free Willy fame, continues his journey toward freedom. September 10, 1999 marked the first anniversary of Keiko's arrival in the cold waters of Iceland's Westman Islands. With each passing day, Keiko is behaving more like a wild orca. He has adapted well to the local tides, winds, storms, and the environment. Keiko is eating nearly half of his daily feed as live fish. The other half is thrown into the water. (To discourage Keiko from associating humans with food, he is no longer fed by hand.) Keiko is chasing birds that land in his bay pen and spending much of his time underwater.
Blood tests show that Keiko is free of pathogens. Most orcas develop higher levels of pathogens in captivity. Iceland's clear, cold waters seem to have been the best medicine for all of Keiko's medical problems.
Wild orcas have been seen within one-to-two miles of Keiko's bay pen. Last June, a small pod of orcas visited Keiko near the sea-pen enclosure. The wild orcas seemed to be communicating with Keiko. This is an important development since Keiko eventually must be able to rejoin a wild pod to survive as a free whale.
Genetic and photo identification studies of the local wild orca populations are giving researchers new information about population numbers, behaviors and health. This research may even help identify surviving members of Keiko's long-lost family.
Last December, Keiko was released into a larger ocean pen covering one million square feet. [Note: as of Feb 8 Keiko had not yet been let out of the bay pen into the cove. That should take place any day now.] The installation of a fence across the mouth of the bay has given Keiko an opportunity to explore the bottom of the bay and chase schools of herring. Keiko now is experiencing wild space on a scale he has not known since he was violently taken from his mother's side at the age of two.
There are times when Keiko actually disappears from the view of his human caretakers. This is a step needed before Keiko can be released to the open ocean. When that happens, Keiko will become the first captive orca to be rehabilitated and reintroduced into native waters.
While this is important as a scientific venture, it is also important as a moral gesture. After visiting so much devastation on the world's marine mammals, it is our moral obligation to give back to the wild this magnificent and intelligent mammal.
For updates and more information, visit the IMMP website.
***
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Free Lolita Update #21
January 26, 2000
Dear Friends of Lolita,
After a hiatus for the holidays, the University of Miami organization Humans Helping Animals is continuing the once-a-month demonstrations at the Seaquarium. The next one will be on Sunday the 30th of January at 12 noon at the Seaquarium. Anyone who is or can be in the Miami area at that time is encouraged to participate. Email Sean Klonanis at mrchfourth@aol.com for info on the demo.
The most interesting news from the Seaquarium is that in mid-December a Florida state representative let us in on some recent political activity by the Seaquarium. The park's owner apparently attempted to convince the legislature once again to allow the park to override county zoning regulations and build a $70 million night club and restaurant on the site, which is owned by Miami-Dade County. County regulations state that the property must be used for a "marine recreational area" which clearly rules out a night club.
Much to its credit, the legislature refused to meddle in the affairs of the county. For more than ten years the Seaquarium has been attempting to override the wishes of the citizens and elected officials of Miami-Dade County. This last attempt was orchestrated last summer after Arthur Hertz, the owner of the Seaquarium, appeared in May, 1999 on Channel 10 News in Miami, proclaiming that he had given up on his expansion plans once and for all, but was going to go ahead and build a new tank for Lolita anyway.
In fact, as we now know, there has been no construction on any new tank (which would not do Lolita much good anyway), and the Seaquarium did not give up on their expansion plans.
This provides some insight into the credibility of the park's position that long-term captive orcas, like Lolita, are "unreleasable." There is no significant risk involved in transporting Lolita to her natural home to reunite with her family, and there is no logical or scientific reason to believe she would not readily readapt to her familiar habitat.
The Lolita campaign continues to pursue other avenues to secure Lolita's return to her place of birth. We are still preparing a legal approach to convince the USDA to perform their responsibilities and enforce the Animal Welfare Act in regard to the size of Lolita's tank.
Please attend the demonstration Sunday in Miami if possible, and in any case, please express your support to Sean and the students at Univ. of Miami (mrchfourth@aol.com) who are doing so much for Lolita.
Oh yes, around 11:30 Sunday afternoon (Jan 23) we got a report of orcas off Langley, Whidbey Island, just north of Puget Sound in the vast inland waterway between Washington and British Columbia. We found them about noon travelling and foraging in Saratoga Passage. They were spread out over several miles, some in small groups, headed north on the east side of the pass. About 3:30 there was a breach and they turned around just short of Penn Cove (where Lolita was captured in 1970) and went back south, foraging slowly back down the Passage. It appears they use this area for food, and don't just travel through. They were mostly close to the mudflats several miles away on the other side of the pass from us, socializing and catching salmon. Now it seems more appropriate than ever that the new location of the Tokitae Foundation is overlooking Saratoga Passage.
This stretch of Saratoga Passage is where Lolita and about 90 of her extended family were herded by boats and planes into Penn Cove in 1970 and again in 1971, where they were finally captured and the young were taken away. That trip up this pass was Lolita's last look at her home and her family. Chances are she still holds vivid memories of her first six years in these waters. We'll have to bring her back to see.
***
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