WRE News: A Historic Deal May Set Lolita the Orca Free

Miami, FL – April 1, 2023 – After over fifty years in captivity, the killer whale known by her stage name Lolita may finally be returned to her natural habitat.

Answering to growing pressure from animal rights activists calling for Lolita, or Toki’s, release, Miami Seaquarium has announced today a partnership with non-profit Friends of Toki and Jim Irsay, a philanthropist and owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts football team.

The deal will be spearheaded by Friends of Toki and is dependent on the whale’s health over the next two years, while she is re-trained to hunt and physically moved across the country. Irsay has committed to funding the plan, which is estimated to cost between $15 and $20 million.