Posted on Mar 30, 2023
Orca taken in the 1970s to be released from captivity, returned to PNW
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The Miami Seaquarium has announced that it will begin the work of releasing the last remaining captive southern resident orca and bringing her home to the Salish Sea.
She has many names, including Lolita.
“Lolita is a showgirl's name," said Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley. "That is not who she is anymore."
Kinley is the president of Sacred Sea, a nature conservation group based in Washington that originated out of the Lummi Nation. The killer whale in captivity in Miami has been called Lolita and Tokitae, but Kinley calls her Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut.
“That’s the name that comes from the village site that she was captured," she said.
The orca's release would be another step toward bringing the whole pod back together. Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut was taken in the 1970s.
“She’s had 50 years of public life and now it’s time for her to retire,” Kinley said. “I hope that people can be good enough to be able to leave her alone and have her peace when she’s brought home, because she deserves it.”
She has many names, including Lolita.
“Lolita is a showgirl's name," said Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley. "That is not who she is anymore."
Kinley is the president of Sacred Sea, a nature conservation group based in Washington that originated out of the Lummi Nation. The killer whale in captivity in Miami has been called Lolita and Tokitae, but Kinley calls her Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut.
“That’s the name that comes from the village site that she was captured," she said.
The orca's release would be another step toward bringing the whole pod back together. Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut was taken in the 1970s.
“She’s had 50 years of public life and now it’s time for her to retire,” Kinley said. “I hope that people can be good enough to be able to leave her alone and have her peace when she’s brought home, because she deserves it.”
Orca taken in the 1970s to be released from captivity, returned to PNW
Posted from kuow.org
Miami
Wildlife
State of Washington
Conservation
Native Americans
Posted >1 y ago
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After 50 years of living in a pool, I really wonder how well that creature will do out in the wild.
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Cpl Vic Burk
SSG Dennis R. You have a point. Will the orca be able to hunt for food on its own after being catered to for all these years? I hope they put some kind of tracking device on it to see if she lives.
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SSG Dennis R.
Cpl Vic Burk - Certainly they've got a tracking device on the orca.
If this was a human, the term would be "institutionalized". I don't know if it's applied to critters.
If this was a human, the term would be "institutionalized". I don't know if it's applied to critters.
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CPO David R. D.
50 Years. Reminds me of the various signs all throughout national parks that state, "Don't Feed The Animals" because it makes them become dependent on the gifts of food and they lose the skills of hunting and foraging.
If she finds another pod of orcas that accept her, she may be able to watch and learn from her new adopted family how to be an Orca in the wild.
If she finds another pod of orcas that accept her, she may be able to watch and learn from her new adopted family how to be an Orca in the wild.
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