Malory, 7, protests the captivity of an orca whale being held at the Miami Seaquarium during a demonstration in Winnipeg on Saturday, August 20, 2011. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)
Supporters of the Humane Education Network gather to protest the captivity of a 41-year-old orca whale at the Miami Seaquarium. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)
A seven-year-old girl is making her voice heard by protesting the inhumane marine captivity of an orca whale at the Miami Seaquarium.
Malory set up a series of informational posters on Saturday in front of the Gas Station Theatre to educate the public and draw attention to the captivity of “Lolita,” also known as “Tokitae.”
Working with the Humane Education Network, Malory says the whale has been held for 41 years in the smallest tank of its kind in North America. She was “orcanapped” from her family when she was four-years-old.
“I don’t think orca’s live in captivity, I think they just survive,” Malory said. “I heard about Lolita over a year ago after watching that special documentary “The Cove.”
Forty-five orcas were captured the same day Lolita was — August 8, 1970 — in the northwest region of Puget Sound in Penn Cove, Washington.
The Human Education Network says Lolita has never seen another orca in more than 30 years and has to perform two to three times a day. She has earned the Seaquarium in excess of $160 million by performing 30,000 times.
Lolita is approximately 21-feet long and 7,000 pounds. Her tank is 20-feet deep at the deepest point and a mere 12-feet deep around the edges. The pool is only 35-feet wide.
Malory and her group of supporters are calling on the Miami Seaquarium to retire Lolita.
“We also ask the USDA to enforce the numerous Animal Welfare Act Regulation violations at the MSQ,” a news release read.
