The people of the Pacific Northwest should know that it’s time to rally around the life of one orca, stolen from waters in their state on Aug. 8, 1970, off Whidbey Island, and suffering in Miami, Florida. Her name is Tokitae, and her captors renamed her Lolita. Most Washingtonians know that orcas are extremely social animals and depend on their family for their well-being; this orca has suffered the fate of “entertainment slavery” alone for 40 years. She has survived the suicide of fellow orca, and calls out to be reunited with her family after all this time. Does it take watching the brutal video of her capture and the death of other orcas (www.orcanetwork.org/captivity/lolitacapture.html) to understand that enough is enough?
What will it take for us to show our humanity toward another innocent sentient being? There is a viable plan in place to allow her release; if you want to understand how much effort has gone into making this a reality, please read it at www.orcanetwork.org/captivity/2007proposaldraft.html. I urge everyone with a heart to join the thousands working tirelessly to bring Tokitae/Lolita back to the waters of Washington state so she has a chance to rejoin her mother, who is still alive and waiting.
Sincerely and hopefully,
Thea W. Hayes
Portland, Oregon
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