Free Lolita! A Whale Story

to Mr. Arthur Hertzt, orcas are not pets. No matter how long Lolita has been imprisoned, she will never fully acclimate to being confined to a small tank in comparison with her natural habitat. It is extremely arrogant for humans to think that we are the only ones who can be rehabilitated back into our own societies. Orcas are the mammals most closely aligned with the same thinking process of human beings. It is a reasonable conclusion to me and my fellow colleagues of aquatic science and marine biology, that this magnificent creature has willed herself to live based primarily on the hope of freedom and reconnection to her natural family. This mammal is not part of your family; she was forcibly removed from her natural habitat and she has her own family waiting for her. Your ignorant speech about Lolita being content in such a confining environment is frivolous. It appears your main concern is monetary profit. You have already amassed over one hundred million(100,000,000 ) dollars from her forced captivity. How much more do you want? We, the leading scientists in this field of study, concur that the abuse of solitary confinement to this mammal needs to cease. We don't believe any animal deserves to be confined for the rest of their life in such conditions. Mr. Hearst, with all due respect, you are a greedy man. My colleagues and I 100% support the Hollywood community who have spoken out on this issue.

Dr.Mukhametov

Russia

to Mr. Arthur Hertzt, orcas are not pets. No matter how long Lolita has been imprisoned, she will never fully acclimate to being confined to a small tank in comparison with her natural habitat. It is extremely arrogant for humans to think that we are the only ones who can be rehabilitated back into our own societies. Orcas are the mammals most closely aligned with the same thinking process of human beings. It is a reasonable conclusion to me and my fellow colleagues of aquatic science and marine biology, that this magnificent creature has willed herself to live based primarily on the hope of freedom and reconnection to her natural family. This mammal is not part of your family; she was forcibly removed from her natural habitat and she has her own family waiting for her. Your ignorant speech about Lolita being content in such a confining environment is frivolous. It appears your main concern is monetary profit. You have already amassed over one hundred million(100,000,000 ) dollars from her forced captivity. How much more do you want? We, the leading scientists in this field of study, concur that the abuse of solitary confinement to this mammal needs to cease. We don't believe any animal deserves to be confined for the rest of their life in such conditions. Mr. Hearst, with all due respect, you are a greedy man. My colleagues and I 100% support the Hollywood community who have spoken out on this issue.

Dr.Mukhametov

Russia

Doctor Mukhametov you seem to hold the Hollywood community in such high esteem. Let me tell you this: I work for one of the major movie studios here and there is nothing but animosity within Hollywood. With the writers on strike, a lot of people got laid off from their jobs. The technicians, cameramen, grips, support people like me are struggling to survive. Not to mention all the outside services, restaurants, stores that depend on Studio business for income also. The Stars are still living well, and telling everyone else how to live their lifes while we are still trying to feed our families. Don't think for a moment that we who work in the entertainment industry hold the Stars in high esteem.

Also Doctor Mukhametov: While do you have no interest wanting to free Bubbles the Pilot Whale from Sea World in San Diego? She has been in captivity longer than Lolita. Can you answer that question for me? Is it because you can't make a name for your self in wanting to free Bubbles? Or get the Hollywood, and activist community interested also? It shows how much you activists are hypocrites when it comes to causes. It sure looks good in the public eye to free an attractive looking animal like a killer whale and not waste effort with a pilot whale that's not attractive looking.

You activists are all cowards and don't have the guts to address my question. You failed trying to get Corky out of Sea World, and will fail trying to get Lolita from the Miami Seaquarium.

Doctor Mukhametov you seem to hold the Hollywood community in such high esteem. Let me tell you this: I work for one of the major movie studios here and there is nothing but animosity within Hollywood. With the writers on strike, a lot of people got laid off from their jobs. The technicians, cameramen, grips, support people like me are struggling to survive. Not to mention all the outside services, restaurants, stores that depend on Studio business for income also. The Stars are still living well, and telling everyone else how to live their lifes while we are still trying to feed our families. Don't think for a moment that we who work in the entertainment industry hold the Stars in high esteem.

Also Doctor Mukhametov: While do you have no interest wanting to free Bubbles the Pilot Whale from Sea World in San Diego? She has been in captivity longer than Lolita. Can you answer that question for me? Is it because you can't make a name for your self in wanting to free Bubbles? Or get the Hollywood, and activist community interested also? It shows how much you activists are hypocrites when it comes to causes. It sure looks good in the public eye to free an attractive looking animal like a killer whale and not waste effort with a pilot whale that's not attractive looking.

You activists are all cowards and don't have the guts to address my question. You failed trying to get Corky out of Sea World, and will fail trying to get Lolita from the Miami Seaquarium.

The Orca Network has long been on the right track in trying to bring Lolita back. That goal looks more achievable than ever with Hollywood star power behind it. Already signed on as interested in helping are Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and 50 Cent, among others. They???re capable of making the plight of Lolita a national story and raising whatever money it takes to bring her home.

Scientific minds are already planning how best to reintroduce Lolita to her home waters. It will be done slowly, meticulously, and under expert supervision. It???s certainly worth the effort. It will be a great day on Whidbey Island when Lolita comes home. We never thought we???d be saying this, but good luck, 50 Cent!

Like the Orcas, this issue is black and white. Humans took Lolita against her will from her home and family,
humans need to return her to her home and family. We are all going to die, wouldn't it be better to die in your home with your family than in a too small, sub standard tank? Lolita was captured in Penn cove, is anyone aware that none of the Puget Sound Orcas will go near that location? Transient Orcas swim by it but not the local Orcas.
Sure, the way humans are going the oceans and most likely the rest of the planet will no longer be able to support life years down the road, but we are speaking of just one Orca, that is what the article
is about. Shame on this aquarium for not making Lolita's life a bit better, filleted fish? They couldn't spend a few bucks and get her some live salmon to catch on her own?

The Orca Network has long been on the right track in trying to bring Lolita back. That goal looks more achievable than ever with Hollywood star power behind it. Already signed on as interested in helping are Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and 50 Cent, among others. They???re capable of making the plight of Lolita a national story and raising whatever money it takes to bring her home.

Scientific minds are already planning how best to reintroduce Lolita to her home waters. It will be done slowly, meticulously, and under expert supervision. It???s certainly worth the effort. It will be a great day on Whidbey Island when Lolita comes home. We never thought we???d be saying this, but good luck, 50 Cent!


BY ERIC HERTZ

Comment: Comment: In response to Mr. Arthur Hertzt, orcas are not pets. No matter how long Lolita has been imprisoned, she will never fully acclimate to being confined to a small tank in comparison with her natural habitat. It is extremely arrogant for humans to think that we are the only ones who can be rehabilitated back into our own societies. Orcas are the mammals most closely aligned with the same thinking process of human beings. It is a reasonable conclusion to me and my fellow colleagues of aquatic science and marine biology, that this magnificent creature has willed herself to live based primarily on the hope of freedom and reconnection to her natural family. This mammal is not part of your family; she was forcibly removed from her natural habitat and she has her own family waiting for her. Your ignorant speech about Lolita being content in such a confining environment is frivolous. It appears your main concern is monetary profit. You have already amassed over one hundred million(100,000,000 ) dollars from her forced captivity. How much more do you want? We, the leading scientists in this field of study, concur that the abuse of solitary confinement to this mammal needs to cease. We don't believe any animal deserves to be confined for the rest of their life in such conditions. Mr. Hearst, with all due respect, you are a greedy man. My colleagues and I 100% support the Hollywood community who have spoken out on this issue.

Dr.Mukhametov

Russia

Its amazing how everyone gets so worked up here. Yet everyone is missing the point:
Jacques Cousteau said it himself: There's no point in saving the whales...if they don't have an ocean to live in. Whale Biologist Roger Payne also brings up another point: When you get rid of zoos and aquariums...you condem an animal into extinction.

In the Seattle Times they quote it would take 50 million dollars to save the current pods of orcas that reside there. Are going to waste another 20 million dollars like they did for Keiko to try to release Lolita? Not cost effective in my opinion.

I am going to keep asking this question until I get an answer: Why don't you animal rights activist rally to free Bubbles the Pilot Whale at Sea World in San Diego. Why is Lolita any more special then Bubbles?

Orky

In reference to Dr. Richard Trickle's comment below:

Again we have someone who hyprocritically scolds or demeans someone else. You are mocking AnnieCycle2 by saying "You are speaking for.... the Whale??? " and then you yourself presumptuously and arrogantly say "If given the choice, I'm sure the Orca choose to return to its normal habitat rather than remain in a tank 80' in width and 20' in depth." Really? And what makes your judgement right over hers? How much more of a hypocrite can you be? You wanna make her feel bad for speaking on the whale's behalf, when you do so yourself and then claim people are presumptuous and arrogant for doing so? You are basically mocking yourself!

The truth to the matter is that we have no way of knowing what the whale wants and we have no business claiming to do so. You think because of how you feel and think that assumably so shall the whale. You think that your opinion and judgement are the right ones, although you have no way of actually being able to know or prove so. Meanwhle disclaiming and degrading all others.

As a Doctor, you assumably at some point in your studies took Biology, and probably dissected an animal or two. Those animals sacrificed thier lives so that you could learn and broaden your knowledge. Shouldn't they too have been free? What about the goldfish in the tiny glass bowls...aren't their small little "tanks" inhumane too? How about all of your pets? Just because humans have domesticated these animals over a long period of time...they too were once a species that roamed free and possibly even considered humans as predators or competition for food. Shouldn't they too remain free?

Is it the size or the intelligence of the animal that gives you the feeling of connection so that you "think" you know exactly how she feels? I don't hear much argument for rats or snakes. If you are relying on intelligence and brain size, then how about squid or octupus? What about keeping them in tiny tanks in aquariums? Where is the argument for them?

It is quite ridiculous the ignorance and arrogance people are portraying when they want to place judgement on and for others. Try placing judgement on only yourselves and see where that road takes you.

Lolita should be allowed to return to her waters and her family. Sure Puget Sound is polluted, but the Orcas do not have to stay in the Puget Sound. Last summer they were seen less frequently than years before.
The Orcas at least have the choice to leave the area if they so choose. Right now members of L pod were spotted off Monteray, CA. Please don't use the quality of Puget Sound as an issue. Lolita deserves to be reunited with her family. If any Orca would be able to survive, it would be Lolita, she at least deserves the chance.

i am all for setting lolita free, but after so many years in captivity, is she equipped to survive in the ocean. Can she catch prey? She deserves to be free, but will that put her in peril?

I believe that lolita should be free, but is she equipped to handle the ocean? for example, Will she be able to hunt prey? She deserves to be free, but after so long in captivity, will she be able to look after herself?

Part 2: Dr.Mukhametov . . . ??? . . . conclusion to me and my fellow colleagues of aquatic science and marine biology, that this magnificent creature has willed herself to live based primarily on the hope of freedom and reconnection to her natural family . . . ???

Whales are smarter than you give them credit. ???...hope of freedom and reconnection . . . ??? has kept her alive is nonsense. She has reformed her ???pod??? and environment, accepted her situation . . . nothing else would have kept her not only alive, but healthy and happy . . . a quality life. It IS her life now. To rip her from her life again, toss her into the now unhealthy waters of the cold Puget Sound to live with her unhealthy whale pod stretches the bounds of reality to imagine Lolita will remain healthy and survive. Her old environment is UNHEALTHY.

???...My colleagues and I 100% support the Hollywood community who have spoken out on this issue....???

Is a comment below your stature, sir. The ???Hollywood community??? are actors...they support this from the goodness of their hearts, not knowledge of whales under these exact circumstances.

How about working to clean up Puget Sound, make it a healthy environment for our sea creatures?
Work/petition to the Florida aquarium to enlarge Lolita???s pen to give her more freedom of movement?

The only condition that should matter is Lolita...not keeping someone from making money on her...Lolita???s welfare only.

THEN, when the conditions are healthy and right move her home, giving her the optimal chance of survival..

Part 1:SpunkyPup . . . Lolita???s Florida tank is cooled to only 65 degrees according to Howard Garrett, Orca Network. ???...her tank is reportedly cooled to 65 degrees . . . ???
Puget Sound 40 degree water temperature would be a nasty shock to her system. How could you think otherwise?

Thirty-eight years ago, they stole Lolita from Puget Sound waters and robbed of living with her Orca family pod when she and 45 other whales were rounded up and sold to aquariums around the country. Of the 45 whales, she is the ONLY one still alive. If she were unhappy, she could not have survived 38 years in Florida.

Thirty-eight years ago Puget Sound waters were not polluted. The sea ???critters??? evolved around their gradually increased polluted waters. Lolita would have no such slow introduction to pollution. They would shift her from clean, healthy water to the polluted Puget Sound waters.

You equate people of slavery to Lolita???s situation, and I agree to the point that the freedom robbers of people and the whales share the same arrogant, ugly mentality.
The Harriet Tubman???s of the world helped bring an end to people slavery, but whales have a different situation. New business hounds the Orcas still surviving in Puget Sound, the loud whale watchers boat motors are - as someone else pointed out here, ???loving them to death . . . ???

The whales overall, Orcas in particular, form tight family pod bonds, apparently never broken no matter how many years pass.
It seems to me then that unless Lolita felt attached to another form of ???pod??? she could not have lived these 38 years as she has.

She may remember her whale pod, but that is not the issue. Thirty-eight years have passed and she has formed a new life, formed other attachments - she is a proven survivor.
In Puget Sound, those 38 years have polluted the waters and creatures. The Orcas are fighting for their lives . . . living in unfit waters AND hounded by money making whale watching boat businesses . . . both conditions created by humans.

.It is not right that we have allowed misguided do-gooders to - again - turn Lolita???s life upside down . . . trade her healthy and happy existence for ill health and early, miserable death. Haven???t we humans done enough damage to our wild creatures and environment?
When do we say ENOUGH and stop interfering with nature? How about starting now, with Lolita?

In response to AnnieCycle2 @ 01/27/2008 2:48:26 PM:

"Puget Sound's polluted waters and 40 degree temperatures? "

What temperature do you think Lolita's tank is? Orcas need cold water. And to respond to the whole pollution argument, so, do you think that because humans polluted the oceans that we should take all the criters out and put them in tanks? With Orcas, the number one problem with living in polluted water would be the fish that that they eat. The fish they feed Lolita are wild caught so there's really no getting around that one.

"successfully formed attachments to her human trainers"

That's a pretty bold statment. Assuming that she would rather remain in captivity because she has "trainer friends". Let's time travel back to the days when in America, people of color had "trainers". Sure, some of the "trainers" were nice to their slaves and had friendly relationships but, I guarantee if given the opportunity, they would not want to live under the conditions of their "trainer".

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To Andrew Hertz

Enjoy driving your yellow Hummer while you can. Once Lolita is gone, daddy won't be able fill your gas tank up anymore.

Comment: In response to Mr. Arthur Hertzt, orcas are not pets. No matter how long Lolita has been imprisoned, she will never fully acclimate to being confined to a small tank in comparison with her natural habitat. It is extremely arrogant for humans to think that we are the only ones who can be rehabilitated back into our own societies. Orcas are the mammals most closely aligned with the same thinking process of human beings. It is a reasonable conclusion to me and my fellow colleagues of aquatic science and marine biology, that this magnificent creature has willed herself to live based primarily on the hope of freedom and reconnection to her natural family. This mammal is not part of your family; she was forcibly removed from her natural habitat and she has her own family waiting for her. Your ignorant speech about Lolita being content in such a confining environment is frivolous. It appears your main concern is monetary profit. You have already amassed over one hundred million(100,000,000 ) dollars from her forced captivity. How much more do you want? We, the leading scientists in this field of study, concur that the abuse of solitary confinement to this mammal needs to cease. We don't believe any animal deserves to be confined for the rest of their life in such conditions. Mr. Hearst, with all due respect, you are a greedy man. My colleagues and I 100% support the Hollywood community who have spoken out on this issue.

Dr.Mukhametov

Russia