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Lolita, an orca at the Miami Seaquarium, was captured off the coast of Washington in 1970 and has lived in captivity ever since.
Now, animal rights activists have dubbed her the “world’s loneliest orca,” arguing that her enclosure and isolation from other orcas is immoral.
But according to the aquarium’s curator, Robert Rose, releasing Lolita would be a death sentence because she lacks survival instincts. He says she would end up like Keiko, the killer whale in the movie “Free Willy” who struggled to survive alone and died of pneumonia one year after his release.
Even after survival training, Lolita might not know how to find food or become sick from toxic waters, Mark Simmons, executive vice president at Ocean Embassy,
wrote
in a letter to the Miami Herald.
“Wild oceans are harsh, unforgiving environments unsafe for an animal who isn’t equipped with even the most basic survival skills or an adapted immune system,” Simmons wrote.
But unlike Keiko, Lolita could be reunited with her pod, which would be important for her survival,
according
to the Miami Herald.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will soon decide whether to declare Lolita a member of an endangered species. This would give civilians the ability to sue on her behalf and force her release back into the ocean.
Warm up questions
- Millions of people visit Sea World every year to see Orca whales and dolphins perform. Why do you think people are so fascinated with these animals?
- Do you think it is moral for aquarium parks to keep animals such as Orcas?
Critical thinking questions
- Last year Sea World Entertainment made $1.46 billion dollars. How do you think a decision to ban Orcas in captivity would affect their annual revenue? What would Sea World do in response?
- Imagine that you are a trainer who has worked with Lolita for decades and are now being asked to testify in a trial that will decide whether Lolita will stay at the Miami Seaquarium, or released back into the wild. The lawyer asks you, in your professional opinion, to describe the pros and cons of each situation (staying at Miami Seaquarium or being release into the wild). What would you say?
- Animal rights activists insist that keeping Orcas isolated and in small enclosures is inhumane. Companies that own Orcas cite evidence that rereleasing them into the wild can lead to death. What is a solution that would appease both side? Build your argument and support it with facts from the video and informational text.
