Created for Until Lolita is Home
Counting down the days to Lolita’s half-century capture date, August 8th 1970.
DAY 1 ~ AUGUST 8, 1970
Lolita (first called Tokitae) was captured on August 8, 1970 in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. She was one of seven young whales sold to marine parks around the world from this roundup of over 80 orcas conducted by Ted Griffin and Don Goldsberry, partners in a capture operation known as Namu, Inc. Using speedboats and releasing explosives in the water, they forced the orcas into Penn Cove. Babies were separated from their mothers. The orca mothers would not leave their children, piercing, screaming vocalizations were heard incessantly both above and below water. Five whales, including four baby whales, drowned during this capture. The four drowned calves had their bellies slit, were filled with rocks, and weighted with chains and anchors to keep their deaths from coming to the attention of the public. In mid-November a trawler dragged the bodies of the drowned infants into its net. The captain of the fishing boat deposited the dead baby whales on a beach in front of a Seattle newspaper reporter, and the story was immediately told to the world. Six years later this discovery played a major role in a court decision that banned Sea World from ever capturing another killer whale in Washington State.
DAY 2 ~ 1970
Dr. Jesse White, veterinarian for the Miami Seaquarium, travelled to Seattle to choose one of the orcas just caught in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. He was instructed to pick out a female to be displayed along with a young male they had named Hugo, captured in Puget Sound WA in 1968. Dr. White chose an orca he described as “so courageous, but yet so gentle,” and in honour of her Northwest home he called her “Tokitae,” a coastal Salish native word meaning “Nice day, pretty colors.” Soon after delivery the Seaquarium management renamed her “Lolita”.
DAY 3 ~ SEPTEMBER 24, 1970
Lolita arrived at the Seaquarium.
She was sent to the Miami Seaquarium in Florida, where she arrived September 24, 1970 to be a playmate for the young male orca named Hugo who had been captured in Vaughn Bay, near Puget Sound, Washington in February, 1968. Hugo was from Lolita’s clan, the Southern Resident community, but no one knew that at the time.
For the first several weeks Hugo was kept in the present manatee tank, about a hundred yards away from Tokitae, because the park managers assumed they would fight. They called constantly to each other with their siren-like calls across the park grounds. Over the next ten years Hugo banged his head against the walls of his tank on many occasions, once slicing the tip of his rostrum off when he broke the thick glass of the viewing window. Veterinarian Jesse White sewed Hugo’s severed rostrum back on.
DAY 4 ~ 1971
Super 8mm footage of Lolita and Hugo, 1971.
DAY 5 ~ MARCH 4, 1980
After 12 years of performances and repeated brutal, self-inflicted damage to his head, Hugo died of a brain aneurysm. He was known for bashing his head against the wall. He once crashed into an underwater bubble window, shattering it and slicing off the tip of his rostrum. After his death, no plaque or memorial of any kind was erected. Instead, any and all references to Hugo ended when a crane dumped his remains into the Miami-Dade landfill.
DAY 6 ~ 1996
WATCH: Lolita Spirit in the Water
DAY 7 ~ 1996
Interview with Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research, who designed Lolita’s retirement proposal. The tape was recorded at night by Balcomb of 98 members of Lolita’s extended family.
DAY 9 ~ 12 JANUARY 2003
Lolita: Slave to Entertainment
DAY 10 ~ JULY 10 2005
Anne-Marie Van Dijk report from the Seaquarium: “Before the show started, when she was still in the medical pool, I could slightly hear her whistle. Toki started out doing well, but then soon thereafter started doing the complete opposite of what her trainer was asking her to do (three times in a row, and very deliberately too). I wonder whether she wasn’t cooperating to rebel or simply to tease her trainer. Considering she did it three times in a row, with three different behaviors and not wanting fish for it, it seemed to me like a way of teasing her. She even went up to her and sprayed her full of water! It was really interesting to see. I truly wonder what she must have been thinking. As usual, the trainers gave her a time out (not paying any attention to her) and then came back. She performed as was asked after that. It’s always very sad seeing how trainers treat her after a time-out, really giving the idea she has been a “bad” girl.”
DAY 11 ~ 21 MARCH 2007
30-second commercial for Saab
DAY 12 ~ MARCH 2009
Perchance to Dream – Animated Short
DAY 13 ~ 5 AUGUST, 2010
Save Lolita Public Service Announcement
DAY 14 ~ 26 JULY, 2013
Shocking footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca’s extraordinary nature, the species’ cruel treatment in captivity over the decades and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry. This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans truly know about these highly intelligent, and surprisingly sentient, fellow mammals that we only think we can control.
DAY 15 ~ 2013
“A Day in the Life of Lolita, the Performing Orca” featuring Dr. Ingrid Visser.
DAY 16 ~ JULY 2, 2014
The Seaquarium was bought by Palace Entertainment, owned by Parques Reunidos, which owns over 70 theme parks including Marineland, Antibes in France.
DAY 17 ~ 24 JULY 2014
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited and fined the Miami Seaquarium for putting trainers in the water with Lolita, thereby violating worker safety laws. OSHA fined the Seaquarium $7,000. As a result, trainers are no longer performing in the water with Lolita.
DAY 18 ~ AUGUST 2, 2014
DAY 19
She has no one to talk with. Hugo, a male orca with whom she shared the tank, died in 1980. The two Pacific white-sided dolphins she lives with today bite and harass her, according to depositions. She spends much of her time staring at the wall of her tank, according to court documents.
DAY 20 ~ SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
DAY 21 ~ AUG 2014
Let the Girl Go (Free Lolita) – An Interview with Robbyne Kaamil
DAY 22 ~ AUGUST 2014
Let the Girl Go – Music Video for “Let the Girl Go: Free Lolita” featuring Robbyne Kaamil.
DAY 23 ~ JANUARY 2015
Powerful aerial drone footage of Lolita at the Seaquarium. This short yet powerful video clip clearly shows how small her tank truly is, compared to her size.
DAY 24 ~ FEBRUARY 4, 2015
NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule that includes Lolita, a captive killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium, in the endangered species listing for the Southern Resident killer whales.
DAY 25 ~ HOWARD GARRETT OF ORCA NETWORK: “She truly is unfathomably courageous and gentle. She waits, alone and confined in concrete, all day and all night except for shows and brief playtimes. How does she persevere? How does Toki maintain her endurance, her gracious compliance, her sanity? All the other 50+ orcas delivered to theme parks from the Salish Sea before 1976 had died by 1987. Hugo effectively committed suicide in the tank with her, yet she is still going strong to this day.
DAY 26 ~ MAY 2015
Derik Nelson Band has written and performed a moving song called “Lolita.” The siblings also produced a sweet music video for the song a few weeks ago on Whidbey Island, where Lolita and many of her family member.
DAY 27 ~ PROTEST EVERYWHERE
The Until Lolita is Home (formerly Shut Down Palace) campaign to retire Lolita. – By Wendy King – ARTICLE
DAY 28 ~ MAY 11, 2015
Lolita’s ESA status began officially on May 11, giving her new protections under a much stronger law. – ARTICLE
DAY 29 ~ JUNE 1, 2015
Miami Seaquarium Stops Trainers From Performing With Lolita After Federal Safety Ruling. – ARTICLE
DAY 30 ~ SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Danielle Daals says she’ll live in a bathtub outside the Seaquarium for one month. “Living in a bath tub is the best analogy for [Lolita’s] situation. [In the wild,] Orcas swim so many miles a day that their tanks are the equivalent to a bath tub!” – ARTICLE
DAY 31 ~ DECEMBER 1, 2015
Lolita: The Bathtub Whale
“A short film on Lolita, the oldest killer whale in captivity. She currently resides in one of the nation’s smallest orca enclosures at Miami Seaquarium in Miami, Florida.”
DAY 32 ~ JANUARY 16, 2016
The Clandestinos, Brunosmoky and Shalak Attack, were invited by the production team UP Art Studio to work on this Mural in Miami Wynwood Art District, for the first Big Walls, Big Dreams edition in December 2015.
DAY 33 ~ APRIL 1, 2016
In the UK, the office of Arle Capital, the investment house that owned the corporation that owned the Seaquarium, generated a feature story in the Sunday Times all about Lolita. – ARTICLE
Day 35 ~ April 1, 2017
Miracle March for Lolita, Miami 2017, organised by Until Lolita is Home.
DAY 36 ~ APRIL 02 2017
Drone video for Until Lolita is Home’s Miami’s Miracle March for our beloved Lolita by Alex Potter.
DAY 37 ~ JUNE 2017
The Whale Bowl is a short documentary that follows the heart-felt plight of Lolita, the world’s loneliest orca.
DAY 38 ~ JUNE 16 2016
50 Years of Marine Mammal Captivity in 4 Minutes.
DAY 39 ~ JUNE 8 2016
The first time since Lolita was captured and placed captive at the Miami Seaquarium that the United States government has admitted that Lolita’s tank may not meet the Animal Welfare Act regulations. The facts, as opposed to the interpretation of the regulations, are no longer in debate. However, it appears the suggestion of the agency, instead of considering that Lolita be retired to a seaside sanctuary, allegedly is to adjust the requirements, so Lolita can stay where she is. –Miami Herald
Day 40 ~ Sept 2017
In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma struck Miami. Lolita was left behind.
Miami New Times | Observer | SeaWorld of Hurt
Day 41 ~ March 13, 2018
New effort to bring ‘Lolita the killer whale’ back to Northwest from Miami Seaquarium. The Lummi Indian Nation and Orca Network announce to Miami their dedication to returning Tokitae to her home and family. – Komo News
Day 42 ~ April 1, 2018
In Solidarity With The Lummi Nation made by Jo for Until Lolita is Home.
Day 43 ~ April 26, 2018
Watch the video, then write to Seaquarium Miami and tell them how you feel.
Day 44 – 27 May 2018
“The Lummi Nation is keeping the pressure on the Miami Seaquarium to release Lolita, an orca who has been held in captivity for nearly 50 years. This weekend, the Washington state tribe ended a 16-city tour to raise awareness about the orca’s plight.” – WPLG Local 10
Day 45 – June 16, 2018
Introduction to Qwel lhol mech ten (the black fish) made by Freddie Lane.
DAY 46 ~ JUNE 21 2018
Stand Up For Lolita Worldwide 2018.
DAY 47 ~ JANUARY 14, 2019
On January 14, 2019 Sandra Pollard’s new book, “A Puget Sound Orca in Captivity-the Fight to Bring Lolita Home” was released.
DAY 48 ~ JULY 27, 2019
Liberation4Lolita worldwide event.
DAY 49 ~ JUNE 11, 2020
Lummi Nation new fight to bring Toki home. “No one should have to spend 50 years in captivity,” says Tah-Mas (Ellie Kinley).
DAY 50 ~ AUGUST 8, 2020
A summary of “Tokitae remembers her home and family” by Howard Garrett
Dr. Jesse White chose her because he said, she was “so courageous, and yet so gentle.” He named her Tokitae (TOE-Key-Tie) a coastal Salish greeting meaning “nice day, pretty colors.” She truly is unfathomably courageous and gentle. She waits, alone and confined in concrete, all day and all night except for shows and brief playtimes.
How does she persevere?
How does Toki maintain her endurance, her gracious compliance, her sanity? All the other 50+ orcas delivered to theme parks from the Salish Sea before 1976 had died by 1987. Hugo effectively committed suicide in the tank with her, yet she is still going strong to this day. Did she learn her patient character and self-control from her mother and family? Tokitae learned very young to be a member of her family, her culture, and community. That shared self is her experience and isn’t forgotten, even after fifty years captive in a tank in Miami. She still knows who she really is, and how to be a Southern Resident orca.
If/when she returns home it won’t only give her a chance to have her life back.
The eyes of the world will be on her. And we may all learn who she really is.
Together we are #United4Lolita
