Is Rita the manatee an example for Lolita the orca?
March 6th, 2009 by admin
Last week, a 3,000-pound manatee named “Rita” was released into the waters of Blue Spring State Park in central Florida after 26 years in captivity. She was tagged and will be monitored to make sure she remains healthy. In 1982 Rita became entangled in a crab trap and was brought to SeaWorld in Orlando for treatment of her injuries. (According to SeaWorld, her release was delayed out of concern that she had been exposed to a virus.)
The release of Rita raises hopes for another long-captive mammal.
38 years ago, seven orcas were violently captured in the waters off Washington State, all destined for the aquarium industry. “Lolita,” who at the time of her capture was six years old, is the sole survivor. Today she lives a solitary life at the Miami Seaquarium, performing in depressing daily shows for tourists. Her tank is believed to be the smallest enclosure for an orca in the country.
Animal advocates have pleaded with the Seaquarium to release Lolita back into the waters of her birth. Lolita could be moved to a sea pen, where she would re-learn how to eat live fish and other skills necessary for survival in the wild. The Seaquarium’s excuse has long been that Lolita would never survive in the wild after so many years in captivity. But if SeaWorld believes a manatee can survive in the wild after 26 years in a tank, surely the Seaquarium should give Lolita the same opportunity?
If you’d like to help Lolita, there are monthly demonstrations outside the Seaquarium in Miami. Contact Shelby at saveouroceansnow@gmail.com for details, or visit www.myspace.com/saveouroceansnow.