Campaign To Bring Captive Orca Back To
Washington Gaining Steam

Sunday, January 20, 2008
WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON - The campaign to move Lolita the killer whale back home to Puget Sound is getting new life.

Supporters have spent years trying to relocate her from captivity in Florida to her native waters.

Now the tide may be turning in their favor.

For years Lolita has been the star attraction at the Miami Seaqarium.

She has spent her life learning tricks and entertaining the crowds, but her home is far from a tank in Miami.

Lolita was a member of L pod in Puget Sound when she was captured in 1970 and sold.

She was approximately three years old when she left.

Howard Garret, director of the Orca Network, has spent the past 12 years trying to get Lolita home.

"She needs to come home; she belongs here in her home waters and with her family," he said.

Orca Network has spent years trying to raise awareness about Lolita's captivity. They've even offered her owner in Miami $1 million. Still no - but people are joining Lolita's fight, people who can reach a huge audience.

"We would need somebody with a voice who got it and wanted to tell it and now we've got that in the form of Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford," Garret said.

According to the Orca Network Web site, other celebrities on board include Placido Domingo, 50 Cent, Janet Jackson and more.

But would Lolita survive here in her home waters of Puget Sound after 37 years in captivity? The Miami Seaquarium says it's best to keep her in the tank she's known most of her life, but those who want her back say with careful handling she would do fine in these waters.

Orca Network believes the time is right to get her back. They have noticed that Miami Seaquarim no longer uses Lolita for their main attraction.

Lolita is estimated to be 40 years old - in her prime with many years left.

Where she will spend the rest of her life is still in question.

Source: King 5 News

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