Gratitude to Orca Network who have never tired in their efforts to free Lolita Tokiate fro the Miami Seaquarium and bring her  home to her L pod family in the Salish Sea. Gratitude to the Lummi Nation members who this year brought major involvement to the effort to bring her home. And gratitude to all those who show up outside the Seaquarium, who write letters, email, phone.

The Victoria Orca Festival Society was disbanded as the Board members had too much going on in teaching, other animal rights initiatives, and life in general.

Last summer I did not do my usual street action on August 8 – the anniversary date of Lolita Tokitae’s brutal capture – with individual letters, information, book giveaways (and free beer!  – after conversation, if you were really interested in Lolita Tokitae). Thanks Irish Times for putting up with me for 8 years, and sometimes more than once a year, outside your pub – I bought $100 of beer tickets every year to give away and hope that helped  :-)

The status of the Southern Residents was getting more and more hard to watch, while in Canada DFO and other officials did nothing, and dams weren’t breached in Washington.

This year, finally, Canada has closed a regional fishery to try to save some Chinook for the SRKWs.

But with the loss of Crewser, L92, at 23 years old, bringing the SRKW population down to 75 as of the end of June 2018, I am ashamed to say – ashamed because  Tokitae keeps going day after day, for what will be 48 years in prison in the substandard Seaquarium on August 8 – ashamed  because Orca Network has been involved for decades in the struggle to bring her home and reunite her with her remaining family, and Howard and Susan have not succumbed  to depression induced inertia – I could not bring myself to do a display in the Victoria Central Library this year, or set up the orca fin hat event in the library for kids and parents, or have a table at Fernfest community festival.

Victoria City Council did respond to my request to declare June Orca Month in the City, for the 3d year.

And it’s not August 8 yet. Can I look Lolita Tokitae in the eyes and say “I felt so much grief for your relatives  that  I did nothing”?

Maybe by the Inner Harbour, this year. The  orca topiary by the Inner Harbour  is the perfect place.

Thanks to the 70 people who signed letters at Fernfest June 17, 2017!  Over 8 years petitions and letters have been sent to

• Arthur Hertz, former CEO of Wometco Enterprises
• Andrew Hertz, Wometco Enterprises, General Manager of the Miami Seaquarium
• Palace Entertainment (the Hertzes sold to Palace in 2014)
• Parques Reunidos (HQ in Spain; owns Palace Entertainment)
• Arle Capital (London, England; owns Parques Reunidos)

Candace Calloway Whiting has the “who owns Lolita Tokitae” history here.

Find out more about Lolita Tokitae on the Orca Network site.

Lolita Tokitae’s mom Ocean Sun (L 25, born 1928) still swims by this city with Lolita Tokitae’s family.

This year we are again writing to  Fernando Eiroa, who was moved up in the Parques Reunidos hierarchy and has moved from Newport Beach to Madrid last year.

If you missed us at Fernfest, here is this year’s letter for you to use. Each letter signed on the street or at a community event has been  sent by snail mail, hoping for a better impact. (Yes, that’s expensive but how could I look Lolita Tokitae in the eye and say “Sorry, the stamp was too expensive”?)

This is the first year in 8 years we will not  be on the street downtown today with letters and books and Orca Network  info (and beer tickets!) giveaways in front of the Irish Times pub (shout out to them for never asking me to move along – 2 hours beside their patio asking passersby to sign letters, book giveaways, info distribution). Please print and sign and send your letter to the owners of this officially substandard orca zoo. It’s well past time to retire Lolita Tokitae to a sea pen here in the San Juans

New documentary:

‘The Whale Bowl’ is a short documentary made by film students from Greenwich University in London, UK to help raise awareness about the plight of Lolita, the orca currently held at Miami Seaquarium.

[Today’s date]

[Your address, physical address plus email  as you expect a reply]

Fernando Eiroa, CEO
PARQUES REUNIDOS SERVICIOS CENTRALES S.A
Paseo de la Castellana, 216. 16^th floor
28046 Madrid. Spain

feiroa@palaceentertainment.com

Dear Mr. Eiroa and Palace Entertainment Officers and Board of Directors,

I am writing from the coast of Lolita’s home waters, from which she was taken as a baby August 8, 1970. As of August 8, 2017, she will have survived 47  years of captivity in the  Miami Seaquarium.

I request your active participation in allowing Lolita to be retired before she dies in your tank, and that she be returned to a sea pen in her home waters where her mother, Ocean Sun (L25) of L pod of the Southern Residents, still swims, along with Lolita’s extended family. There is a science based plan for her return and care in the “Lolita” section of OrcaNetwork.org. There is no significant risk to Lolita in any stage of Orca Network’s proposal for Lolita’s retirement in her home. Remaining in captivity will result in continuing and intensifying mental and physical stresses and related health issues.

It is a miracle that Lolita is still alive. All of the other 40+ members of her community who were captured and removed for display in theme parks before 1973 died by 1987, and yet Lolita somehow maintains her courage and her patience. She has endured the tragic suicide of her one-time companion Hugo (an orca also from her home waters, likely a relative with whom she could communicate; his tragic story here from Ric O’Barry) who bashed his head into the tank walls more than 30 years ago, in his teen years. She has been without the company of another orca for most of her years of performing at the Miami Seaquarium, although orcas are noted for their lifelong social and family connections.

When the Miami-Dade County Commission approved the sale of the Miami Seaquarium to Palace Entertainment, Commissioner Xavier Suarez asked, “Is there something that can be contemplated [to help Lolita]?” Commissioner Barbara Jordan asked, “Is there a retirement program for whales?”

The captive orca industry has lost credibility and stature over the last years. Public opinion has shifted to condemn confining cetaceans for human amusement and entertainment.

Parques Reunidos / Palace Entertainment has an opportunity to be on the right side of history by replacing cruel orca captivity with CGI / virtual reality encounters technology as a truly educational alternative. This decision would bring tremendous positive publicity. This is your chance to create a huge following of highly favourable public attention by providing assistance to help Lolita return home at long last, or to continue to find yourselves the object of increasing international disapprobation.

Lolita is middle aged by orca standards of longevity. Their life spans are very similar to ours. She could have many years of family connection. Please offer her the respect she deserves by playing a positive role in her much deserved retirement.

There are millions of people worldwide who would give great acclaim to Parques Reunidos and Palace Entertainment for supporting her retirement. I am one of them.

I’ve included my return address. Please reply and let me know what you are going to do to help get Lolita Tokitae home to the Salish Sea.

Sincerely,

[Your signature – please print your name as well.]

“Save Lolita” PSA:  Underdog Entertainment.