Lolita, the oldest orca in captivity, to be released into the wild after 50 long years

A large killer whale that has been held in captivity for more than 50 years in a Florida aquarium will soon be released into the ocean.

The decision to release the 2,268kg orca into its natural habitat comes after the aquarium reached a deal with animal welfare advocates, including the nonprofit Friends of Lolita. Aged 57, Lolita retired from performances last year, when the ownership of the aquarium changed hands.
As per the records, she was captured at the age of 4 in 1970, and spent decades performing for crowds who paid to see her. Eventually, she fell ill.

Another orca that is believed to be her mother, called Ocean Sun, continues to swim free with other members of their clan, and is estimated to be more than 90 years old. This factor has played a major role in Lolita’s freedom as experts opine that it might have a positive impact on her longevity.
Referring to this, Howard Garrett, president of the board of the advocacy group Orca Network, based on Washington state’s Whidbey Island stated that it’s a step toward restoring our natural environment, fixing what we have already messed up with exploitation and development.

As per the plan, Lolita will be transported by plane to an ocean sanctuary in the waters between Washington and Canada, where she will initially swim inside a large net while trainers and veterinarians will teach her how to catch fish. She will be under 24-hour care until she acclimates to her new surroundings.

If reports are to go by, the process to return Lolita to her natural habitat was years in the making, which began with the transfer of the aquarium’s ownership, which later partnered with the nonprofit to provide medical care to the whale.