Lolita , the oldest sea wolf in enslavement , was take from her rest home in the Pacific Northwest when she was just 4 years honest-to-goodness – now , over 50 years on , she ’s machinate to finally be released back into her native waters .
After growing concerns from brute rights groups , Miami Seaquarium ( where Lolita , antecedently known as Tokitae , is presently held ) announced at a insistence group discussion on Thursday their plans to release the over 2,260 - kg ( 5,000 - pound ) gentle heavyweight .
While the relocation could be up to 24 month aside and be around $ 20 million , the design currently see Lolita hark back to the Pacific Northwest , where she will ab initio be under the care of flight simulator in an enclosed sanctuary . There , she will be taught to hunt and help to build up muscularity , better equipping her for life in the state of nature .
The now 57 - year - sure-enough orca retired from do just last twelvemonth , and currently resides in a 24- by 11 - m ( 80 by 35 foot ) army tank .
“ It ’s a footstep toward restoring our lifelike environment , fixing what we ’ve messed up with exploitation and development , ” said President of the United States of the board of protagonism group Orca web , Howard Garrett , AP Newsreports . “ I remember she ’ll be mad and ease to be home — it ’s her sure-enough neighborhood . ”
Known as the southern resident killer whale , Lolita is a phallus of an endangered group of orcas inhabiting the waters between Washington and Canada , where it ’s thought only 73 somebody stay on . The mathematical group put up a substantial universe decrease in the 1960s and 70s when whale roundups saw 45 orcas , include Lolita , captured and delivered to theme Park around the globe .
Despite Lolita ’s telling age , it ’s think that her nearly 100 - year - old mother is one of the few remaining sea wolf that still swim the Pacific Northwest waters , belonging to a clan called L pod . Her mother ’s age has given advocates hope that Lolita may too have many more year of freedom ahead of her .
