Peaceful protest this weekend: It’s time to free Lolita

Lolita, in her prison for the past four decades.....

Howie & Susan at the Orca Network have been lobbying, protesting & agitating for the release of Lolita for decades – here’s their writeup of the Free Lolita Campaign.

Meanwhile, locally, Debbi Fincher & friends are pulling together for Lolita, who has been captive in the Miami Seaquarium since 1971….here’s her story:

Please come show your support of the last surviving Southern Resident Orca left in captivity, Lolita! She’s been held for 40 years at the Miami Seaquarium. Her tank is 20 feet at its deepest point and 35 feet across. Lolita is about 22 feet long and 6,000 pounds. Does that sound okay to you? We will be joining an International Day of Peaceful Protest in Friday Harbor, Saturday, May 15th, 9:30am-12noon, at the bottom of Spring Street near the waterfront. It’s time to let her “retire from show business.”

Come show your support of her by wearing “black and white” or displaying something “black and white” at your home, work or car for that day! Make and bring a sign or banner if you can, some extra will be on-hand.

Lolita was born in the wild around 1966 and captured in Penn Cove off Whidbey Island at the age of about 4! Her mother is thought to be L25, Ocean Sun, estimated to be born in 1928, and still alive in L Pod today!! Ken Balcomb and Howard Garrett of Orca Network have developed a plan to return her to her home waters, (our home waters, too)! She’s worked 40 years for the Miami Seaquarium, in a tank who’s size is illegal by today’s standards! Coming home, she would receive professional care in a natural cove near her family’s foraging grounds.

In time, she would be given the chance to reunite with her family should she want to. Who are we to say no? We must convince the owner of the Miami Seaquarium, it’s time to “retire Lolita”.

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