The Miami Seaquarium announced in March that the orca was set to be returned to the waters in the Pacific Northwest after 53 years in captivity
The Miami Seaquarium announced on social media on Friday that Lolita, who also goes by “Toki” or “Tokitae,” started showing “signs of discomfort” earlier this week. This prompted Miami Seaquarium staff and Friends of Toki medical team to begin treating her “immediately and aggressively.”
However, the aquarium said that “despite receiving the best possible medical care,” she ultimately died on Friday afternoon from what experts believe “to be a renal condition” — or kidney failure.
“Toki was an inspiration to all who had the fortune to hear her story and especially to the Lummi nation that considered her family,” the Miami Seaquarium wrote on social media. “Those of us who have had the honor and privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.”
"Our collective wish was to see Toki in her native waters and we are heartbroken to learn of this sudden loss," Cava wrote.
She continued, “Alongside the many Miamians who grew up visiting her, the generations of activists around the world that were inspired by her story, and the caretakers who remained dedicated to her until the end - today, we say our final goodbye to our beloved Toki.”
Alongside the many Miamians who grew up visiting her, the generations of activists around the world that were inspired by her story, and the caretakers who remained dedicated to her until the end — today, we say our final goodbye to our beloved Toki. pic.twitter.com/98gdWWOVie
— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) August 18, 2023
Lolita was captured in waters in the Pacific Northwest in 1970 when she was about 4 years old, making her roughly 57 years at the time of her death, according to NBC News. Lolita was believed to have been the oldest orca whale in captivity. However, she also was noted to have lived in one of North America's smallest whale tanks during her life, per The Guardian.
The orca's health had ebbed and flowed throughout the years. A report from the USDA released in 2021 criticized the Miami Seaquarium's care of the animal, citing that she was fed less than the recommended amount and wasn't taking in enough water.
The Dolphin Company, which became the new operators of the Miami Seaquarium in August, 2021, reportedly made adjustments to Lolita's care, and an independent assessment in June 2022 found the whale to be in better health, according to NBC News. Despite this, Lolita was pulled from display at the Miami Seaquarium in 2022 in response to her health issues.
In March, the Florida aquarium announced plans to relocate Lolita to an ocean sanctuary near her capture point so she could be reunited with her mother. The plan was set to take place sometime within the next 18 to 24 months.
"This is such a special creature who is loved by so many people around the world. So many are concerned about her well-being after decades of being in a small tank,” Cava said during the news conference. “Here we are looking at the real possibility that she will spend the rest of her life in nature's waters and live freely."
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