Keiko eventually swam to Norway and lived in the ocean for five years. Keiko was moved from a tank at a marine park in Mexico to an aquarium in Oregon, and then on a US Air Force cargo plane to a sea pen in Iceland. The team will likely borrow methods used to move Keiko, the orca from the 1993 movie Free Willy. We’re not really sure if she can communicate with other whales because she’s been alone.

“If she is healthy enough to be transported, the issue is her skill set,” Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who has been an advocate for Lolita and improvements at Seaquarium, told the Herald. Their population has “fluctuated considerably” since the 1970s, with pods “reduced during 1965-75 because of captures for marine parks,” according to NOAA Fisheries.

This unique group of orcas spend the summer and autumn months in Puget Sound and were added to the endangered species list in 2005. While this is welcome news, many obstacles remain, particularly the logistics of transporting the ailing 7,000 pound whale from Florida up to Washington State, as well as preparing the 57-year-old to live back in the wild after living in captivity for over 50 years.Īccording to the Miami Herald, the goal is to place Lolita back in the sea and reunite her with her family, the L pod of southern resident orcas. She’s lived this long to have this opportunity and my only mission … is to help this whale to get free.” “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve loved whales, just loved whales because the power, the greatness of them and how gentle they are. “I’m excited about being part of Lolita’s journey,” Irsay told reporters, according to NPR. Irsay did not say how much the relocation would cost, only citing a “big number.” The move comes after growing pressure from animal rights groups, lawsuits from groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and anger and possible lawsuits from the Lummi Nation. The Miami Seaquarium in Florida announced its plans to move Lolita home at a press conference with nonprofit group Friends of Lolita and philanthropist and owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, on March 30. She is believed to be the oldest orca in captivity. Lolita, also known by her Lummi name Tokita or Toki, was captured in Penn Cove off the coast of Washington State in 1970 when she was roughly 4 years old. Over half a century since she was captured in the Pacific Ocean near Puget Sound, Lolita the Orca may return to her home waters.

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