Lolita the orca whale returns to the wild after 6 decades in captivity at Miami Seaquarium

The geriatric orca could soon return to waters off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, the region where Lolita’s mother reportedly still lives.

Fifty-two years after orca Lolita was released from captivity, the killer whale may be returning to the ocean and possibly reuniting with her elderly mother.

Activists are reuniting on a decades-long mission to free Lolita, also known as Tokitae or Toki, who was taken from the wild and transported to the Miami Seaquarium in 1970, according to  The Guardia  .

Since 1970, the 56-year-old orca has been residing and performing in what has been described as the smallest assignment for captive orcas in North America, according to the outlet.

Over the years, Lolita’s health has had ups and downs. Still, experts have described the geriatric whale as being in “remarkably good shape,” the paper added, having outlived her chattering partner Hugo. She died of a cerebral aperism in 1980 after repeatedly banging her head against her clasp.

“She is a miracle every day,” Howard Garrett, a whale researcher and activist with the Orca Network who has been fighting for Lolita’s release since 1995, told  The Guardia  . “It’s against all odds that she is still alive. I think it’s her mental health that keeps her physical health in good shape.”

He wrote: “She is not withdrawn, ranting, or having the stereotypical behavior that indicates any type of brain damage associated with being in captivity. She can be completely different if her ability to remain healthy is maintained.”

A USDA report released last year criticized Miami Seaquarium’s care of the animal, citing that it was being fed less than the recommended amount and not drinking much water.

“The AV [veterinarian in charge] was also investigated because Toki was not getting enough water (as marine mammals draw water from fish for hydration) and that the lack of feed volume would cause him distress and agitation,” the report said.

He commented: “The VA also had agreements with the training curator dictating the incorporation of fast swims and large jumps into training sessions and shows for this geriatric whale. Toki’s blood work was abnormal and the VA believed that these behaviours could result in overexertion and Toki becoming weaker, which was indeed observed by both the senior trainer and the VA.

The VA also diagnosed that Toki had hit his lower jaw, likely on the lower channel/wall while swimming fast. Toki’s medical records indicate damage to his lower jaw on February 25, March 10, March 31, April 6, and April 7, 2021.”

The report’s findings, coupled with the fact that the facility’s new owners are open to a possible release of the whale, have activists optimistic about Lolita’s eventual return to open waters, according to  The Guardia  .