Tokitae/Lolita Gets a Health Check

By Mark J. Palmer

Our colleagues at the Whale Sanctuary Project report that the orca known as Tokitae (also known as Lolita) at the Miami Seaquarium has been assessed for her health by a team of two independent veterinarians.

The Miami Seaquarium was sold last year to the Dolphin Company, a Mexico-based enterprise that maintains a number of aquariums (including some with dolphins) around the world. As part of the sale, Dolphin Company agreed to take Tokitae off exhibit and no longer force her to do tricks that are potentially harmful to the aging orca. The Dolphin Company welcomed the health review of Tokitae.

Reportedly, the new owners have cleaned up a number of problems identified last year by the US Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, including rotten fish being fed to Tokitae and other animals, peeling paint in tanks, and other issues. The veterinarians inspecting Tokitae confirmed that she was being well taken care of by the staff, including feeding and medical care.

Tokitae, believed to be 56 years old, is the second oldest orca in captivity (Corky, an orca held at SeaWorld San Diego, is the oldest). Tokitae was caught as a young calf in the Pacific Northwest, part of the Southern Resident orca population now listed as an endangered species.

The veterinarians determined that Tokitae is recovering from a serious illness, that lasted from December 2021 through March 2022. The cause of the illness is not known, but her blood work results have improved considerably, and the veterinarians believe she is on her way to recovery. They also observed that she has a low-grade anemia, which they hope to treat once she fully recovers from her illness.

From this preliminary assessment, it is not clear what the future of Tokitae might be. Many would like to move her to a seaside sanctuary in her original home in the Pacific Northwest. It is too early to tell how well she would do with such a stressful move and release into waters she has not known since she was caught as a calf at about 4 years old.

But her relatives are still living, including possibly her mother, so a homecoming for Tokitae would be an amazing reunion, if it could be done without harm to her. She has lived more than 50 years in her small Miami tank.

******************************

The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute is working to end the captivity of orcas like Tokitae and Corky. You can help with a donation to IMMP’s global efforts to end confining orcas, beluga whales and dolphins in tiny concrete tanks for our entertainment. Thank you for your support!