Florida Key, Virginia (WSVN) – A heartfelt memorial service was held in the devastated community in honour of Lolita, the cherished killer whale who lived for more than 50 years at Miami Seaquarium.
Officials from Miami Seaquarium said that the orca, also known as Toki, passed away on Friday following over 50 years of confinement.
In an interview with 7News, animal rights activists expressed their outrage at the marine mammal’s death.
One supporter claimed, “She was taken from her family when she was a baby and supposed to be living in the wild.”
“Her wretched days, years, and decades at the Miami Seaquarium are finally over,” an animal rights activist named PETA stated.
On Saturday, at least twenty mourners congregated outside the Miami Seaquarium. They placed flowers in front of a makeshift tombstone and held up signs.
“It feels like a relative passed away. A mourner remarked, “I’m really upset, really upset right now. “I’m upset because I’m disappointed that this was the only way it could end.”
According to PETA, Lolita resided in the tiniest orca tank in the world at the Seaquarium.
PETA activists carried signs that read, “Captivity killed Lolita,” on Friday night.
Her living conditions, according to activists who spoke with 7News on Saturday, were appalling.
It’s comparable to a person.
“Toki started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort, which her entire Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki medical team began treating immediately and aggressively,” the Miami Seaquarium said on Friday. She passed away Friday afternoon from what is thought to have been a renal condition, even though she received the best medical care possible.
But only a few days prior, the Seaquarium published a video that included encouraging progress reports, which some people are now questioning.
Edward Akromas, a former trainer of Lolita, commented on the video.
Three days ago, the Seaquarium reported that she was doing fantastic and that they were still getting ready for her move. She’s had renal issues for the past few days, correct?” he asked. “All right, so you’ve been working with zoological animals for more than 20 years, and you test those blood levels pretty frequently.
Regarding the care of the killer whale, Akromas was forthright.
He remarked, “I do wonder if this was something that was going to happen for a while, and they just played it up like she was doing great.”
Dr. Jenna Wallace, a former veterinarian for the orcas, also responded to the Seaquarium’s video.
