April 2024 saw the release of a tragic yet fascinating documentary titled Resident Orca. It is written, directed, and produced by Sarah Sharkey Pearce and Simon Schneider. This documentary delves into the story of Lolita, the killer whale.
Authorities captured Lolita when she was a baby. Throughout her life, she lived in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium and eventually died last year. She weighed 5000 pounds and lived in an 80-foot by 35-foot tank. Lolita was held captive for more than half a century. Although animal rights activists made several attempts to liberate her, she passed away tragically on October 2023.
According to Deadline, the synopsis reads, “After decades of failed attempts to bring her home, an unlikely partnership between Indigenous matriarchs, a billionaire philanthropist, killer whale experts, and the aquarium’s new owner take on the impossible task of freeing Lolita. Captured 53 years ago as a baby, only to spend the rest of her life performing in the smallest killer whale tank in North America.”
Resident Orca: What was Lolita’s cause of death?
According to CBS News, Lolita died due to old age and multiple chronic illnesses. At the time of her death, she was 57 years old. After her passing, authorities transferred her body to the University of Georgia, where they performed her necropsy. In March 2023, there were plans to move her to a natural sea pen in the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, this plan would be backed by Jim Irsay, the owner of Indiana Colts. Unfortunately, it could have taken months or years for this plan to get a green signal.
Some of the animals’ other names were Sk’aliCh’ehl-tenaut and Tokitae. According to the Washington Post, “Her name, Tokitae — Toki for short — was given to her by the first veterinarian to care for her at the Miami Seaquarium; it was a nod to her region of origin, a Coast Salish greeting roughly translated as ‘nice day, pretty colors.’”
