Killer whale abuse: Lolita the orca in Miami Seaquarium, the country’s smallest tank - TomoNews
- 8 years ago
MIAMI — Since being captured in 1970, Lolita the orca whale has resided at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida. She’s been forced to perform tricks since being stolen from her pod at age 4. Not only that, but her tank happens to be the smallest orca tank in the U.S.
Lolita is roughly 21 feet long and weighs 7000 pounds. For a whale her size, regulations state her tank should be at least 48 feet wide in either direction with a straight line of travel across the middle. Her actual tank is just 35 feet wide by 80 feet across, with a concrete station in the center.
The cramped tank also exposes Lolita to the sun’s UV radiation, which has led to terrible eyesight stemming from a pterygium. At 50 years old, Lolita is the oldest orca in captivity, and her ailments are racking up.
Animal welfare organization PETA has been working tirelessly to have the Miami Seaquarium held responsible for the whale’s suffering due to the poor treatment she’s given, but whether she’s released back into her pod or a seaside sanctuary anytime soon remains a big question mark.
Lolita is roughly 21 feet long and weighs 7000 pounds. For a whale her size, regulations state her tank should be at least 48 feet wide in either direction with a straight line of travel across the middle. Her actual tank is just 35 feet wide by 80 feet across, with a concrete station in the center.
The cramped tank also exposes Lolita to the sun’s UV radiation, which has led to terrible eyesight stemming from a pterygium. At 50 years old, Lolita is the oldest orca in captivity, and her ailments are racking up.
Animal welfare organization PETA has been working tirelessly to have the Miami Seaquarium held responsible for the whale’s suffering due to the poor treatment she’s given, but whether she’s released back into her pod or a seaside sanctuary anytime soon remains a big question mark.