Free Lolita! A Whale Story
A common criticism of the fight to free Lolita is tragic story of Keiko, the orca who was released from captivity amid the "Free Willy" craze of the 1990s. Keiko starred in that movie, after years in a rundown Mexico City aquarium where he suffered ill health. But unlike the fictional character he played, Keiko didn't have the same fairy-tale ending: five years after being released in Iceland, he died, alone, after settling in a Norwegian fjord.
The difference with Lolita, advocates say, is the family factor--crucial, say experts, to any whale's release. There haven't been many to study. But looking back on Keiko, many scientists believe too little was known about his family history to successfully reintegrate him with his pod. Lolita's family, on the other hand, are some of the most studied whales in the world: a group of 43 L Pod orcas that can be found at regular intervals around the region. "The whole key to this is whether or not the animal will be accepted by its family," says Wood of Global Research and Rescue.
For his part, Levy is aware of the obstacles, but remains confident they can be overcome. Transporting a whale across country isn't cheap--but with Hollywood's help, that may no longer be a problem. "Trust me, we are going to get [Lolita] out of that tank," says Levy. "It's inevitable."
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: lilygomez25 @ 04/24/2008 10:09:58 PM
Comment: The only way to create awareness is to have a way for people to related to the animal- going to the seaquarium gives people that...
Posted By: stce @ 04/16/2008 6:15:46 AM
Comment: I feel she should be released. lolita has a much better chance, as said in the letter above, at leaset they know who her family is. i feel if all goes well with her family then she will stay away from humans.
hertz has the money to build a new tank hes just to stuck up and wonte spend the money on her.
i want to help with her freedom i just dont know were to go to help. anyone know???????
Posted By: jsadowsky @ 04/02/2008 12:09:04 PM
Comment: My feelings about Lolitta are complex and mixed. Since I grew up living on Miami Beach, i have wonderful memories of going to seeing Lolita and falling in love with her. At my most recent visit to Miami Seaquarum about 5 years ago, it was obvious that it could not compare too the better conditions of a larger operation like Sea World. I have no doubt she is well cared for but in need of a larger pool. But setting her free may not be the answer either. Given the reason in the article. (ie, hunting, length of travel, keeping up with pod, use to people) Why dont they raise funds for a better pool