Lolita began showing “serious signs of discomfort” in recent days, according to an Instagram post from the Miami Seaquarium. After being treated “immediately and aggressively” by a medical team, she died of “what is believed to be a kidney condition” on Friday afternoon, the aquarium said.
“Toki was an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to hear her story and especially to the Lummi nation who considered her family,” the post reads. “Those of us who have had the honor and privilege of spending time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.” The Lummi Nation is a Native American tribe based in coastal Washington state and southern British Columbia, near the waters where Lolita was captured.
The 57-year-old whale, sometimes called Toki and known as Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut by the Lummi people, was to be returned to the ocean, the Miami Seaquarium announced in March. Defenders identified a natural sea pen off Washington state, including waters where members of Lolita’s family still swim. Her 95-year-old mother is believed to still be alive.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement that locals were “deeply saddened” to learn of Lolita’s passing.
“Together with the many Miamians who grew up visiting her, the generations of activists from around the world who were inspired by her story, and the caretakers who remained dedicated to her to the very end, today we say our last goodbye to our beloved Toki,” Levine said. Dig in a statement.
“Our collective desire was to see Toki in her home waters and we are heartbroken to learn of this sudden loss,” the mayor continued.
Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, which operates the Miami Seaquarium, also expressed his sorrow over Lolita’s death.
“None of the efforts we made to give Lolita a chance was a waste of time and money. My heart is truly broken,” Albor said in a social media post.
Animal welfare activists, the Lummi elders and the non-profit organization Friends of Toki advocated for the whale’s release, as scrutiny has fallen on the practice of keeping whales in captivity. Sacred Sea, an advocacy group for Lummi, said the whale “is family to us and as such we must care for it as we do our own,” according to a statement calling for its release. “Together we can right the wrong catch of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and bring her safely and responsibly to the Salish Sea.”
Lolita was one of the two oldest orcas in captivity and the only orca captured in US waters still in captivity, according to Friends of Toki. It was captured off the Pacific Northwest in 1970. The whale stopped performing for the public in 2022 and was living in a 24-meter by 11-meter tank, according to previous CNN reports.
Friends of Toki had advocated for his release and was working with the aquarium to prepare the whale for his eventual cross-country flight and relocation to the ocean. Veterinary specialists from the nonprofit organization regularly assessed Lolita’s health. Their latest report, dated July 31, said Lolita was in “relatively stable” condition with constant energy and appetite, but she was experiencing abdominal discomfort. On August 15, the aquarium said she was “very stable” and “as well as she can be at 50 years of age.”
Medical teams from the Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki treated her before she died, both organizations said.
