After decades in aquariums, Orca Lolita was able to be released into the wild

A killer whale named Lolita can still be released into the wild after more than 50 years in aquariums. A corresponding agreement has been reached between the aquarium in Miami, where Lolita currently lives, animal rights activists and the district administration, the aquarium’s operators announced Friday evening. Funding, timing and exact details of the release are still to be worked out.

Lolita was caught in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of North America and has been in the Miami Aquarium since 1970. According to him, the animal is 57 years old, 6 meters long and weighs more than 3000 kilograms. After the whale’s health deteriorated, it has not been seen since last year. Animal rights activists have campaigned for his release for decades.

Only about three weeks ago, the orca Kiska died in an aquarium in Canada, who had lived in the theme park for about 40 years – sometimes along with the orca Keiko, who later became famous with the movie “Free Willy – Call of Freedom” , and long time alone in a concrete pool, which is why she was nicknamed the “loneliest whale in the world”. Kiska was caught in 1979 in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland. Animal rights activists had also campaigned for Kiska’s release for years and were ultimately unsuccessful. (sda/dpa)