Over 20 years ago I went to visit my brother in Miami and he took me to Miami Seaquarium to see Lolita. When we got inside I got closer to the tank and it didn't feel right, I remembered. Then Lolita got closer and closer then stood there just staring at me...I felt chills. I cannot explain why. And when I walked a few feet she would follow. I didn't enjoy the show as other people but I kept thinking about Lolita all day. What a weird feeling I had. And today I just watched this old video and it saddened me all over again. It's like I was feeling her sadness.
I’m devastated to announce that Lolita the orca died in August of 2023. It’s really something that upsets me… I wanted to see her free and happy, I was so excited for her when they announced they’d release her to her home waters (or at least put her in a seaside sanctuary), but… I never got to…
I am disgusted how people find their suffering - because this is pure suffering - entertaining or educational. It is shocking, heartbreaking to see these wonderful and highly intelligent creatures in an environment like that.
I 100% Concur!!! For the life of me I don't see what is so educational about exploiting animals for profit and why people want to teach their children that!!! What a screwed up society we live in!! That's the only thing me and my family have learned from this!!
Watching this video 10 years after it’s posted and hearing her say “the only way shes going to retire otherwise is if she dies” I’m writing this comment the day after her death. She was never released. She never experienced anything other than that horrific bowl. I am sorry you never got to experience a taste of freedom on this earth. But your spirit is free now ❤️ you deserved better
Lolita is the perfect and ONLY Western hemisphere candidate for return to her natural habitat. By some extraordinary luck, perhaps her own strength, she is almost the only orca in captivity with good teeth, despite the extraordinary length of her captivity and the small size of her pool. Her family is well known and she would eventually get to meet them and stay with them if she and they so choose. Keiko was in much worse shape before his rehabiltation and gradual release, yet his return was a success, despite his unfortunate all-too-early death. Not only would Lolita's release be a powerful story of values and emotion, but also a priceless scientific opportunity to learn more about orcas and to get a bit closer to understanding their culture and language. Lolita could help her pod and clan expand their taste in fish, since they are too fond of diminishing chinook salmon instead of changing their diet to survive. Understanding their language would be as profound for humanity as the Copernican revolution.
Keiko was stolen as a baby. He did not speak orca. Thats why he could not connect with his family. So he swam to norway looking for humans and found them and was happy. Then the orca experts put a stop to that. People were not allowed any more to go near him. So he became lonely and stopped fishing a few weeks later. He swam back to the open sea and weakend he just waited to die. He died. Thanks to the orca experts. Utter fools that they are. A big blow for norwegian tourism as well. People from all over the land were swimming and playng with him. People were happy. Keiko was happy. The experts murdered him. Never forget that fact !
@@deepthroat3627 There was a reason as to why people were told to not interact with him. That was part of trying to rehabilitate Keiko. If he had been allowed to be around humans it would have undermined 4 years of rehab and re training. He would have been deemed 'unfit to survive' and that risked recapture. The experts were the ones who took him out of that tiny mexican tank and brought him back to health He died of pneumonia.....not starvation. Keiko was captured at a very young age (around 2yrs) so its not known how much orca culture he had learned. He clearly was strongly bonded to his captors and to humans. His original pod was never located and thus he was never able to fully integrate back into the wild. Youre lack of respect and understanding is troubling.
@@CleverClover2023 The rehab had already failed because he could not communicate with other orcas. Even his own family would not be able to speak with him. Its like a kidnapt white 2 year old child living in an Indian tribe for years. These children only spoke apache or sioux or whatever. They did not want to go back to any settlers family. They were white indians . Keiko only understood people and not orcas. In norway he was doing great. The only creatures on this planet he could communicate with were humans and he found them in norway. He was fishing and playing and was doing well. and then these so called experts stepped in and made him the lonelyest creature that ever lived. Anorexic mammals die of pneumonia. So yes he died of pneumonia. You are right about that. The experts stole keikos happiness. They stole the happiness from the norwegian fjord people. In my long life i found out that experts are never to be trusted and or respected. Most experts only want fame and money. And after one of their experiments faile they never want to talk about it. They failed with keiko big time. Now they want to free morgan. The young orca with a hearing problem. They found that out in dolfinarium Harderwijk. Thats why she almost died. Unable to live without her family who provided her with food. When the experts set her free she also will die of pneumonia. The human thing should be to shoot her. Now this deaf orca is living in a tank afraid of the other orcas. What a life! ! I have great respect for you for caring about orcas. Greetings.
I have been for years. I switch between PETA and her Orca foundation. She has given her entire life to the study of the wild Orca! Wonderful awesome woman!!
Rip beautiful girl. You’re finally at peace. I’m so sorry you never got to go home and live out the rest of your life in the ocean where you deserved to be.
At 2:31, years ago that decorative wall was not there and you could view the ocean behind her tank which was a constant reminder of where she should be and how amazingly small that tank is in relation to the ocean view. Not only does this tank curve on the bottom making it even smaller than what it seems to be on the surface but also, there is that concrete island in the middle of the tank where the staff/trainers stand taking up even more space and it fully extends solidly and from side to side all the way to the bottom of the tank. Thank you Dr Visser for all your efforts!
Makes me cry watching suffering orcas. I love them and wish them better life where they belong. Thank you Dr. Visser for doing all you can to help these orcas and save the ones you have. Thank you so much.
Dr. Visser saying that the only way Toki would retire would be through death has a new meaning now. I am so sorry for her that too little happened and too late. Rest in peace, Toki.
It is painful to see what humans do to creatures that are supposed to be on our care , thank you for your hard work and you love for these amazing animals.
She says everything so beautifully perfect. The facts are there and we know now that pro caps are either heartless or uneducated. There is no other reason to be for marine parks. They are ABUSEMENT PARKS. And every time I see an orca perform (in a video of course!) I am brought to tears and my heart breaks. It has ever since I was an ignorant child. I didn't know the facts, but I had a little thing called empathy. Something it seems a lot of people lack.
And you'll notice that Dr Visser NEVER calls them "killer whales". never. For one only some transient Orca pods go after whale juveniles. A lot of transients target shark, rays, etc. but not many actually go after whale. yeah they're like a pack of wild dogs in this regard.. except a lot smarter. I think Humpback and Beluga rival them though in the smarts department, what do you think? A lot of us are guilty of ignorance myself included. too be young and stupid, huh? yep youth truly is wasted upon the young.
Animal abuse is already outrageous. What they did to Lolita, goes even beyond it. Pure cruelty. I was devastated when she passed last month because I still hoped she could have been saved like Keiko. I dreamt of her being reunited with her family, swimming in those endless, cold waters. A free wild beauty. 35 years ago, I saw the Shamu Show at the Orlando Seaworld and saw, in awe, Tilikum that night. All those magical and powerful creatures jumping together in such a small tank that I couldn't realize at first. A tacky, loud show, with loud music and kids screaming. OMG, I couldn't bear that loud noise, so imagine them having that noise reverberated, multiplicated in their concrete tank. When the show ended, I sat on a bench and cried alone, not in the view of my friends. I didn't sleep that night when we were back at the hotel because I kept asking myself: "What happens next??! Will they stay there??! It can't be! Where do they rest, and eat and swim like in the ocean?!" I was in shock and never stopped thinking about them since then. I was 15. When Blackfish was out, I confirmed that I did see Tilikum that night because it was impossible not to forget him. So huge and powerful! I've been crying for them all these years, signing petitions, and donating whenever I can. How come through all these decades we haven't stopped this crime? It's heartbreaking and unbearable. I don't work in the field, but I share this knowledge and awareness with family and friends. To grow consciousness. Congrats on your beautiful and important work, Dr. Visser. But there is still work to do until all orcas worldwide are free. There are still Morgan and Kashmenk in Argentina and others.
"Mission of compassion" something money greedy owners of these parks will never have. It will be a hard fight, Dr Visser. We are 100% behind you. You are inspiring.
This is why I’m majoring in marine biology. There needs to be more educated people like Ingrid. My life goal is to make sure the public is educated about these matters.
Id love it if we could get her back with her mother, who is still alive. not only do both of them deserve it but how much we could learn scientifically about how much mother and their babies do bond and how long their memories are
Hello Dr. Visser, I'm a big fan of your work. I've actually cruised with you on the Seabourn Quest to Antarctica . I live in Orlando Florida less than 10 minutes from Sea World in Orlando Florida and it breaks my heart every time I have to drive by it. I lost count how many petitions I have signed for Lolita, Tilikum, Shamu and all the others and nothing ever changed. I still have hope. Thank you for what you do!!!
Have you heard the news about Tokitae (Lolita)? She was officially announced to be set free on March 30, by the new CEO of MSQ! She's being trained to be fitted for a sling harness as we speak, and her sea pen is being searched out to begin its construction!
I can’t believe she’s been in that tiny pool for 56 years now. Alone and with no companion, no room to swim, nothing. How cruel and inhumane. I am so ashamed of humanity. There is no humanity!
What a thought provoking video. Very moving. Thank you for your work on the orca. I was lucky enough to have seen orca in the wild in Whangarei Harbour in 2012 and they are magnificent!
Dear Dr. Visser, Thank you for checking out Lolita and your expert commentary on the situation. Let's hope we can get her out of there before it's too late. YOU ROCK! ;-)
Jeez, I have chickens who free range, and I still do extra things to keep them entertained. And they have brains the size of chestnuts! I can't imagine how anyone can convince themselves that a concrete bathtub is adequate for something this big and intelligent...
Living in Florida for half my life, I’ve been to Miami Seaquarium, and it is the saddest thing ever. Poor Lolita is pretty much being treated like a 5 year olds pet goldfish, if that. If they’re going to steal whales from the wild and keep them in theme parks, they should put in some god damn effort into giving them large enclosures, with natural ocean plants and “decor”. Without these tricks and shows. They can at least let their whales die off in some sort of good condition. A 35 foot goldfish bowl, is UNACCEPTABLE. Giving her an ocean enclosure would be incredible! If only Sea world could do it to. They would still make money, since that’s what they’re all about. People could come and see the whales in their natural enclosures, no tricks, no stunts. Just happy whales, living their last days. I’ve been to several protests around the park, and I’ve seen how much dedication activists put into Lolita’s retirement. If you care, please share the word. We need to help these innocent animals.💙
She’s going home!!!! Well it’s been approved, probably still a few years away. I am so happy that humans have come far enough to try to undue the damage we have done! Congratulations Lolita!!!
They were too late. Makes me so mad, like, she spent over FIVE DECADES in that bowl, and they decided, even when they finally were going to free her, ‘oh, she can wait for another year’?? Imagine how different it would have been if they took action that year. She could have been with her mother, who’s still alive btw ;-;
This is a great example of this one: The more I know people, the more I love animals. Every time I watch orcas in captivities, I want to stop that immediately. Unfortunately, orcas are living in prison and suffering a lot, I cry so much for them, it's absolutely unfair!!! Imagine if you were in their place instead (in captivity), it's really, really horrible, but because this doesn't bother us as because we're not in their place and as a human, we continue to do that for entertainment's sake...VERY PATHETIC. Human are indeed monsters, not animals
It’s been announced this week that Lolita is going to be released to her home waters! Miami sea aquarium is under new management finally, and he is working with the Free Lolita foundation to finally get her to a sea side pen. God I hope this is true! 🙏🏼
I don't see how marine parks like this get away with calling them educational. At least in any half-decent zoo these days, animals are placed in exhibits that resemble a natural environment, and lots of zoos work hard to come up with forms of enrichment that encourage natural behaviors. No accredited zoo these days would be allowed to get away with putting chimps or tigers in tiny enclosures of nothing but concrete and glass. Places like SeaWorld and Seaquarium are nothing but glorified circuses. It would be really, really nice if Lolita could go out to a sea pen. Even circus animals get to retire when they get too old. (even if they don't always go to nice places...) It's totally messed up that her tank is undeniably illegal and law enforcement doesn't do anything. What gives?! Either the Seaquarium brings in enough money to the area that officials are willing to look away, or the law enforcement doesn't have the resources to do anything about it. Not like you can just have a bunch of guys load her into a truck and take her to a whale sanctuary or a less sucky tank. Keiko only managed to get away because the owners of his park WANTED him to. If Lolita could get as much publicity as Tillikum or Keiko, I bet the movement to get her out would be a LOT stronger and more public. Maybe even enough to get the attention of whoever is supposed to be enforcing these laws...
Thank you for posting this. After I learned more about killer whales, or orcas, I realized how wrong sea world and other aquariums are. I am from Texas, and the last time I went to sea world was in 2010. At that point I began to realize just how small the tanks are. I have been doing my part by telling my friends about Blackfish doc. and I am grateful that you are providing more information.
@@elliexsazproductions3767 Where she can EVENTUALLY be allowed to swim out on ocean walks, hunt for food, and one day choose to join up with her pod after interaction with them and other wild orcas.
A few days ago I watched the documentary about Morgan and went into a rabbithole around orcas and dolphins in captivity aswell as seeing videos of the beauty of these animals in the wild. It made me so sad to see the documentary. Today I heard Lolita will be set free soon and I cried happy tears! Hopefully Morgan is next
Poor Lolita reallly sad and cruel I´m cry. Humans only care about money :(((( My admiration, love and support to Dr.Visser -> thank you very VERY much for your fight.
Another reason why I promote finding a good boat captain so these people who want a guaranteed result, immediate gratification can see them in their habitat by a seasoned boat captain who knows how to respect them and knows where they are. The experience is a thousand times better and they won't ever buy a ticket at Sea whatever!!
@@catheyahannas3240yes that is good I think sometimes people are lazy Just like how they treat cars they don’t want to repair it themselves They go to repair shops that do it for them And again they are lazy to drive all the way to a ocean to look at them They think “ why drive all the way out to see a ocean to see these whales when you could ride a roller coaster and see them too
Ingrid,I ❤️ yøur wørk!!Yøu're øne of the best captivity activists I've ever heard øf!!I løve høw yøu løve animals and I løve høw yøu løve that yøu rescue ørcas that are stranded.
I am so freaking upset. Like I'm seriously crying my eyes out & I'm so upset. I dont understand how this is still going on? And how is this acceptable?? Especially in 2020! Please let me know what i can do to help... I'm sadly unemployment at the moment. Lost my job i was at for over 11 years... So it's been a little bit of a struggle. But if i can sign a petition or something. I'd be more than happy to. And Dr. Ingrid you are truly one of Gods angels. Bless your heart. You are truly one amazing person. ~Hugs~
As a child, the one time I went, i couldn't have noticed that the stadium size for customers is way larger thsn the the tanks for these God created creatures
How many more animals have to be sacrificed in the name of greed? When this article was published, Lolita was still alive; now, due to mistreatment, lack of good care, and because of the greed of the “owners “, she’s gone, and never had the chance to enjoy a full life.
Zeljko Trifunovic please. Spare me your rant ok? Keep your head buried in the sand like all of the other Sea World supporters that think captivity is the best place for these smart creatures!! Leave this discussion to the adults and go back to your playpen. Stay out of things you don't understand please.
There is only one way to see the orcas lolita, corky in freedom, raise a daily prayer to God ask for the freedom of the orcas, the way you would like them to be free, ask evangelicals of faith to help you pray for the freedom of the orcas, then God will change the heart of stone to the owners of these marine parks who will feel so much empathy for the orcas that they will only think of leaving them free, there is no other way otherwise they will never be free and ask God that they do not die in captivity without knowing freedom
These places are NEVER going to release these animals... they're going to stall and stall and stall until the animal is dead. Someone ought to do something more extreme than lawsuits...
I watch a lot of Orca videos because they're so fascinating, and realised while watching this that I could to a birthday fundraiser for the sanctuary on facebook (I wasn't going to do one this year). And it's there on the list, to my great delight. So glad for the inspiration, and I hope it becomes a reality soon.
It's really sad to see a fantastical animal in these conditions, unable to see the ocean and experience its own culture that is recorded thanks to researchers and scientists such as Dr. Ingrid, and also known by its as diverse as usHello ingrid I am very happy with your work with orcas, you are a really professional biologist and I thank you for sharing with the rest, your observations. Thank you very much, go ahead.
Can we at least make a new law that requires Seaworld to have a tank at least the size of a football field and the cost would outweigh the benefit so then maybe they would be forced to release them ! In one of the other videos you asked how this can be educational, well I saw the 55 dollar ticket price, that should answer the question, its always been about MONEY, how dare them and shame on anyone who pays for this which is the sole reason they are selling those tickets, people need to stand up and say " THIS IS WRONG"
Seaworld has ended it's captive orca breeding program. What you see in this video is Miami Seaquarium which is an absolutely pathetic orca pool barely bigger than an average swimming pool. Heck, even a human would get bored in a tank the size of that, let alone an orca that travels for miles everyday. Seaworld is certainly no paradise for orcas, but it would be able to offer Lolita a significantly better environment than this shitty pool in Miami Seaquarium which needs to be shutdown forever. I give Seaworld credit for making improvements and responding to public pressure. What has Miami Seaquarium done to improve its pools for Lolita? Nothing!
March 30, 2023: New videos, hours old, say that they have decided to return "Lolita" to the Pacific-Northwest waters of her home, and that they expect that to be done in the next 2 years. They say her initial sea-pen will be the size of two football fields (later to increase in size), netted in, that she will be fed by caretakers and be tended and have continued vet care, that she'll be able to communicate with her kind and kin. They said she is now 56 years old, that she's been in captivity for 53 years, that her 95 yo mother is still alive, and that "Lolita" was very ill (respiratory infection) last year, but that she has greatly improved, and is able to travel. That report said her travel expenses are covered. Apparently, she was retired last year, so from their business perspective, I'm sure they see her as no longer bringing in any money, but costing a great deal to maintain and feed. Such captivities in the first place were immoral. Wishing her the very best!
Oh my parents took us to sea world in San Diego when I was-like 10 yrs something like that. We found it amazing that we could see such a gorgeous-beautiful animal so close, I even took my son when he was younger in early 2000, but now that I’ve taken more of an interest in Orca ( and have come across Dr. Visser’s page) -. I am disgusted with how the Orca now appear to me in captivity @ Sea World I will NOT be buying a ticket anymore - ever! As much as I want to see these beautiful animals It is too disgusting and it’s very sad . If we want to see orcas live, we will go whale watching in the Monterey Bay out here in California and enjoy them in their natural surroundings. Thank you for these videos I would love to help do anything I can to save and get them out of captivity.
Personally I can't do much at my age and financial status. I have been aware of this kind of situation for years. I just make sure to pass along my feelings to my grandson. Thank you Dr. Visser. I hope someday that you are able to go on Joe Rogan's podcast.
If I could say some words of wisdom to that guy I would straightly say "that person you put in a fish bowl has a family she wants to go home but you've got her trapped and one day when you show up to work she's gonna be at the bottom, with just that one wish she's been holding on for 42 years"
Watching in July 2019 and fear her fate will be similar to Tilikum's - dying in captivity. I also want to express that I am NOT an orca/marine life expert by any means. I am an advocate who agrees with Dr. Visser, and the more I learn, the more I see these marine parks as "circusy." When I went to Miami Seaquarium as a child I remember being in awe of this animal to the point I began having dreams about orcas. I remember wanting to work w her and calling the park to inquire on how to volunteer and clearly remember that you have to be at least 18-years-old to work with the marine mammals. Today as an adult I can clearly realize that there are NO experts at the age of 18 - just kids and this aquarium, in particular, is NOT a conservation/educational facility. Truly very sad and inhumane.
I’ve been living in Miami for over 20 years and I’ve always had a certain love and fascination for these animals, ironically I ended up working at a company where all the pumps for all the pools at the Seaquarium were repaired and if they needed it new ones we will sell them too I’ve never for some reason went to the Seaquarium and after learning about their lives and how cruel it is to keep these beautiful animals in captivity it gave me more reasons not to ever go to one of these places it’s heartbreaking 💔 this animal abuse at its best there is no other way to describe it my only wish is that all of them around that are kept in captivity can be released to a rehab place and the can live free it’s just painful to watch
It's also been shown that her tank is leaking, and one of the windows is cracking at the bottom of the tank, she won't last much longer in that environment, and neither will the tank hold her for long now
I hope that there is a special hell for the owner. Life isn’t fair but through the injustice of one, many learn. Many have. I’m sorry Lolita u have to suffer for so long. What an amazing being to stay strong for so long. I hope there is a special heaven for you dear old girl and all that you have given.
Brings me to tears anytime I can actually summon the courage to watch one of these videos. When I was a child, all I wanted was to grow up and work at seaworld so I could be near these beautiful animals every day. My favorite movie was Free Willy and I would watch them all repeatedly. Resist the urge people, educate your children to have respect for animals, and treat all beings on Earth the way you want to be treated. I have NEVER and will NEVER buy a ticket!!!
Thank you for doing this story on Lolita. I hope that it gets around. I wish you could do studies and stories on all of them, here in the United States. I am ashamed that people are actually brainwashed into thinking captivity is good for the whales. We have no right whatsoever to own these beautiful creatures, in my opinion.
Years ago I went to sea world n felt sick and sad this cruelty that was my education the feeling it must stop imprisoning these beautiful creatures - well done dr visser for your essential education for the world!
Over 20 years ago I went to visit my brother in Miami and he took me to Miami Seaquarium to see Lolita. When we got inside I got closer to the tank and it didn't feel right, I remembered. Then Lolita got closer and closer then stood there just staring at me...I felt chills. I cannot explain why. And when I walked a few feet she would follow. I didn't enjoy the show as other people but I kept thinking about Lolita all day. What a weird feeling I had. And today I just watched this old video and it saddened me all over again. It's like I was feeling her sadness.
You def were
She's going home at last!!
She probably was saying Help Me Please 🙏 😭 😢
I’m devastated to announce that Lolita the orca died in August of 2023. It’s really something that upsets me… I wanted to see her free and happy, I was so excited for her when they announced they’d release her to her home waters (or at least put her in a seaside sanctuary), but… I never got to…
I am disgusted how people find their suffering - because this is pure suffering - entertaining or educational. It is shocking, heartbreaking to see these wonderful and highly intelligent creatures in an environment like that.
Zsolt Monostori Yes! Taking them from their family in the wild. Heartbreaking!
Amen!!!
I 100% Concur!!! For the life of me I don't see what is so educational about exploiting animals for profit and why people want to teach their children that!!! What a screwed up society we live in!! That's the only thing me and my family have learned from this!!
The people that go to these shows see the show. People like us see behind the scenes.
Because they don't know any better.
Watching this video 10 years after it’s posted and hearing her say “the only way shes going to retire otherwise is if she dies” I’m writing this comment the day after her death. She was never released. She never experienced anything other than that horrific bowl. I am sorry you never got to experience a taste of freedom on this earth. But your spirit is free now ❤️ you deserved better
Lolita is the perfect and ONLY Western hemisphere candidate for return to her natural habitat. By some extraordinary luck, perhaps her own strength, she is almost the only orca in captivity with good teeth, despite the extraordinary length of her captivity and the small size of her pool. Her family is well known and she would eventually get to meet them and stay with them if she and they so choose. Keiko was in much worse shape before his rehabiltation and gradual release, yet his return was a success, despite his unfortunate all-too-early death. Not only would Lolita's release be a powerful story of values and emotion, but also a priceless scientific opportunity to learn more about orcas and to get a bit closer to understanding their culture and language. Lolita could help her pod and clan expand their taste in fish, since they are too fond of diminishing chinook salmon instead of changing their diet to survive. Understanding their language would be as profound for humanity as the Copernican revolution.
I can see Tokitae/Lolita being released. You might not but I do.
Keiko was stolen as a baby. He did not speak orca. Thats why he could not connect with his family. So he swam to norway looking for humans and found them and was happy. Then the orca experts put a stop to that. People were not allowed any more to go near him. So he became lonely and stopped fishing a few weeks later. He swam back to the open sea and weakend he just waited to die. He died. Thanks to the orca experts. Utter fools that they are. A big blow for norwegian tourism as well. People from all over the land were swimming and playng with him. People were happy. Keiko was happy. The experts murdered him. Never forget that fact !
@@deepthroat3627 There was a reason as to why people were told to not interact with him. That was part of trying to rehabilitate Keiko. If he had been allowed to be around humans it would have undermined 4 years of rehab and re training. He would have been deemed 'unfit to survive' and that risked recapture. The experts were the ones who took him out of that tiny mexican tank and brought him back to health He died of pneumonia.....not starvation.
Keiko was captured at a very young age (around 2yrs) so its not known how much orca culture he had learned. He clearly was strongly bonded to his captors and to humans. His original pod was never located and thus he was never able to fully integrate back into the wild.
Youre lack of respect and understanding is troubling.
Her clan will never eat anything but salmon. Thats what she is fed at the MSQ along with herring, but her wild family have a specific diet.
@@CleverClover2023 The rehab had already failed because he could not communicate with other orcas. Even his own family would not be able to speak with him. Its like a kidnapt white 2 year old child living in an Indian tribe for years. These children only spoke apache or sioux or whatever. They did not want to go back to any settlers family. They were white indians . Keiko only understood people and not orcas. In norway he was doing great. The only creatures on this planet he could communicate with were humans and he found them in norway. He was fishing and playing and was doing well. and then these so called experts stepped in and made him the lonelyest creature that ever lived. Anorexic mammals die of pneumonia. So yes he died of pneumonia. You are right about that. The experts stole keikos happiness. They stole the happiness from the norwegian fjord people. In my long life i found out that experts are never to be trusted and or respected. Most experts only want fame and money. And after one of their experiments faile they never want to talk about it. They failed with keiko big time. Now they want to free morgan. The young orca with a hearing problem. They found that out in dolfinarium Harderwijk. Thats why she almost died. Unable to live without her family who provided her with food. When the experts set her free she also will die of pneumonia. The human thing should be to shoot her. Now this deaf orca is living in a tank afraid of the other orcas. What a life! ! I have great respect for you for caring about orcas. Greetings.
I love you Ingrid and I donated today $100 to the Orca Research Trust and I encourage all people to donate to them.
I got to do a workshop with her today. It was awesome
I have been for years. I switch between PETA and her Orca foundation.
She has given her entire life to the study of the wild Orca! Wonderful awesome woman!!
Rip beautiful girl. You’re finally at peace. I’m so sorry you never got to go home and live out the rest of your life in the ocean where you deserved to be.
I absolutely respect the work Dr Visser does with Orcas. I think all Orcas should be in the wild, not in any tanks.
love u ingrid you're a wonderful human
Yes she is
#freelolita
+Orca Guy is that a thing? It should be if it's not!
Orca Guy XD
Yes 🥰
Dr. Visser! She's finally going to be freed! Thanks for your constant voice & work over the years. I first heard about her from this documentary.
Thank you Ingrid for adding your voice to her cause. Free Lolita.
She's going to be very soon.
At 2:31, years ago that decorative wall was not there and you could view the ocean behind her tank which was a constant reminder of where she should be and how amazingly small that tank is in relation to the ocean view. Not only does this tank curve on the bottom making it even smaller than what it seems to be on the surface but also, there is that concrete island in the middle of the tank where the staff/trainers stand taking up even more space and it fully extends solidly and from side to side all the way to the bottom of the tank. Thank you Dr Visser for all your efforts!
YES - that "concrete island" extends all the way down like a wall. She cannot swim underneath.
Makes me cry watching suffering orcas. I love them and wish them better life where they belong. Thank you Dr. Visser for doing all you can to help these orcas and save the ones you have. Thank you so much.
Dr. Visser saying that the only way Toki would retire would be through death has a new meaning now. I am so sorry for her that too little happened and too late. Rest in peace, Toki.
It is painful to see what humans do to creatures that are supposed to be on our care , thank you for your hard work and you love for these amazing animals.
She says everything so beautifully perfect. The facts are there and we know now that pro caps are either heartless or uneducated. There is no other reason to be for marine parks. They are ABUSEMENT PARKS. And every time I see an orca perform (in a video of course!) I am brought to tears and my heart breaks. It has ever since I was an ignorant child. I didn't know the facts, but I had a little thing called empathy. Something it seems a lot of people lack.
And you'll notice that Dr Visser NEVER calls them "killer whales". never. For one only some transient Orca pods go after whale juveniles. A lot of transients target shark, rays, etc. but not many actually go after whale. yeah they're like a pack of wild dogs in this regard.. except a lot smarter. I think Humpback and Beluga rival them though in the smarts department, what do you think? A lot of us are guilty of ignorance myself included. too be young and stupid, huh? yep youth truly is wasted upon the young.
Animal abuse is already outrageous. What they did to Lolita, goes even beyond it. Pure cruelty. I was devastated when she passed last month because I still hoped she could have been saved like Keiko. I dreamt of her being reunited with her family, swimming in those endless, cold waters. A free wild beauty. 35 years ago, I saw the Shamu Show at the Orlando Seaworld and saw, in awe, Tilikum that night. All those magical and powerful creatures jumping together in such a small tank that I couldn't realize at first. A tacky, loud show, with loud music and kids screaming. OMG, I couldn't bear that loud noise, so imagine them having that noise reverberated, multiplicated in their concrete tank. When the show ended, I sat on a bench and cried alone, not in the view of my friends. I didn't sleep that night when we were back at the hotel because I kept asking myself: "What happens next??! Will they stay there??! It can't be! Where do they rest, and eat and swim like in the ocean?!" I was in shock and never stopped thinking about them since then. I was 15. When Blackfish was out, I confirmed that I did see Tilikum that night because it was impossible not to forget him. So huge and powerful! I've been crying for them all these years, signing petitions, and donating whenever I can. How come through all these decades we haven't stopped this crime? It's heartbreaking and unbearable. I don't work in the field, but I share this knowledge and awareness with family and friends. To grow consciousness. Congrats on your beautiful and important work, Dr. Visser. But there is still work to do until all orcas worldwide are free. There are still Morgan and Kashmenk in Argentina and others.
I soo appreciate this woman and all of her efforts to protect these beautiful animals! Way to go ingrid!
"Mission of compassion" something money greedy owners of these parks will never have. It will be a hard fight, Dr Visser. We are 100% behind you. You are inspiring.
Dr visser do you think she can survive back in the wild?
@@claytonpatrick7762 Absolutely, she's gonna be retrained to be wild and catch her own food. Like Keiko was.
Dr Visser will her mom and her family accept her back in group
This is why I’m majoring in marine biology. There needs to be more educated people like Ingrid. My life goal is to make sure the public is educated about these matters.
Id love it if we could get her back with her mother, who is still alive. not only do both of them deserve it but how much we could learn scientifically about how much mother and their babies do bond and how long their memories are
Hello Dr. Visser, I'm a big fan of your work. I've actually cruised with you on the Seabourn Quest to Antarctica . I live in Orlando Florida less than 10 minutes from Sea World in Orlando Florida and it breaks my heart every time I have to drive by it. I lost count how many petitions I have signed for Lolita, Tilikum, Shamu and all the others and nothing ever changed. I still have hope. Thank you for what you do!!!
Have you heard the news about Tokitae (Lolita)? She was officially announced to be set free on March 30, by the new CEO of MSQ!
She's being trained to be fitted for a sling harness as we speak, and her sea pen is being searched out to begin its construction!
This women is amazing. I want to be like her when I grow up.
Ditto!
I believe in you!
I can’t believe she’s been in that tiny pool for 56 years now. Alone and with no companion, no room to swim, nothing. How cruel and inhumane. I am so ashamed of humanity. There is no humanity!
My heart is broken for Lolita :(
This visit must have been heartwrenching for the Doctor.
What a thought provoking video. Very moving. Thank you for your work on the orca. I was lucky enough to have seen orca in the wild in Whangarei Harbour in 2012 and they are magnificent!
Kate LM Would you help us speak out for the dolphins in Taiji?
Dear Dr. Visser, Thank you for checking out Lolita and your expert commentary on the situation. Let's hope we can get her out of there before it's too late. YOU ROCK! ;-)
Jeez, I have chickens who free range, and I still do extra things to keep them entertained. And they have brains the size of chestnuts! I can't imagine how anyone can convince themselves that a concrete bathtub is adequate for something this big and intelligent...
@Zeljko Trifunovic Can you please shut the fuck up?
Living in Florida for half my life, I’ve been to Miami Seaquarium, and it is the saddest thing ever. Poor Lolita is pretty much being treated like a 5 year olds pet goldfish, if that. If they’re going to steal whales from the wild and keep them in theme parks, they should put in some god damn effort into giving them large enclosures, with natural ocean plants and “decor”. Without these tricks and shows. They can at least let their whales die off in some sort of good condition. A 35 foot goldfish bowl, is UNACCEPTABLE. Giving her an ocean enclosure would be incredible! If only Sea world could do it to. They would still make money, since that’s what they’re all about. People could come and see the whales in their natural enclosures, no tricks, no stunts. Just happy whales, living their last days. I’ve been to several protests around the park, and I’ve seen how much dedication activists put into Lolita’s retirement. If you care, please share the word. We need to help these innocent animals.💙
She’s going home!!!! Well it’s been approved, probably still a few years away. I am so happy that humans have come far enough to try to undue the damage we have done! Congratulations Lolita!!!
They're gonna try to move her to Washington in the next year and a half, the sooner Toki is out of that CESSPOOL the better.
They were too late. Makes me so mad, like, she spent over FIVE DECADES in that bowl, and they decided, even when they finally were going to free her, ‘oh, she can wait for another year’?? Imagine how different it would have been if they took action that year. She could have been with her mother, who’s still alive btw ;-;
The fact that people think that this is ok is horrible! She should be free, not kept in some little pool with nothing to do!💔
This is a great example of this one: The more I know people, the more I love animals.
Every time I watch orcas in captivities, I want to stop that immediately.
Unfortunately, orcas are living in prison and suffering a lot, I cry so much for them, it's absolutely unfair!!!
Imagine if you were in their place instead (in captivity), it's really, really horrible, but because this doesn't bother us as because we're not in their place and as a human, we continue to do that for entertainment's sake...VERY PATHETIC. Human are indeed monsters, not animals
It’s been announced this week that Lolita is going to be released to her home waters! Miami sea aquarium is under new management finally, and he is working with the Free Lolita foundation to finally get her to a sea side pen. God I hope this is true! 🙏🏼
Is this really happening?!
@@sunshinef263y - I truly hope so!
I love this woman. She is brilliant and I pray and hope we can free these creatures very soon.
I don't see how marine parks like this get away with calling them educational. At least in any half-decent zoo these days, animals are placed in exhibits that resemble a natural environment, and lots of zoos work hard to come up with forms of enrichment that encourage natural behaviors. No accredited zoo these days would be allowed to get away with putting chimps or tigers in tiny enclosures of nothing but concrete and glass. Places like SeaWorld and Seaquarium are nothing but glorified circuses.
It would be really, really nice if Lolita could go out to a sea pen. Even circus animals get to retire when they get too old. (even if they don't always go to nice places...) It's totally messed up that her tank is undeniably illegal and law enforcement doesn't do anything. What gives?! Either the Seaquarium brings in enough money to the area that officials are willing to look away, or the law enforcement doesn't have the resources to do anything about it. Not like you can just have a bunch of guys load her into a truck and take her to a whale sanctuary or a less sucky tank. Keiko only managed to get away because the owners of his park WANTED him to. If Lolita could get as much publicity as Tillikum or Keiko, I bet the movement to get her out would be a LOT stronger and more public. Maybe even enough to get the attention of whoever is supposed to be enforcing these laws...
Well said, i agree with you..
This is just too sad😢
Thank you for posting this. After I learned more about killer whales, or orcas, I realized how wrong sea world and other aquariums are. I am from Texas, and the last time I went to sea world was in 2010. At that point I began to realize just how small the tanks are. I have been doing my part by telling my friends about Blackfish doc. and I am grateful that you are providing more information.
These videos have opened my eyes. I always teach my kid that animals need to be free.
Thank you for your work, Dr. Visser. You are a true inspiration.
hi want to be friends
@Sarah Arshad VIII-C-A she needs to be freed back with her mother
@@anastasiawinters4455 Not *freed,* but retired to a sanctuary.
@@elliexsazproductions3767 your a new anti cap welcome
@@elliexsazproductions3767 Where she can EVENTUALLY be allowed to swim out on ocean walks, hunt for food, and one day choose to join up with her pod after interaction with them and other wild orcas.
A few days ago I watched the documentary about Morgan and went into a rabbithole around orcas and dolphins in captivity aswell as seeing videos of the beauty of these animals in the wild. It made me so sad to see the documentary. Today I heard Lolita will be set free soon and I cried happy tears! Hopefully Morgan is next
Don't forget Corky from SeaWorld San Diego! She has a brother and sister out at sea today.
This tank is too tiny, it breaks my heart seeing this
It is even more disturbing in person because you can truly appreciate just how tiny it actually is.
From above where the people are it looks big, but when you get up close to the tanks then you see the real side.
Any tank is too tiny. Whales belong in the ocean.
We love you Dr. Visser
Poor Lolita reallly sad and cruel I´m cry.
Humans only care about money :((((
My admiration, love and support to Dr.Visser -> thank you very VERY much for your fight.
Dear ingrid i love your work your passion and your mission.... For all orcas in the world. Freedom for every orca. Thank you
This is very sad not only a doctor but a good woman i luv her wish i could meet her and spend some time with this incredible woman
If people keep buying tickets it will never stop.
Very true.
what you say is true and all but did you really comment on your own video 😂
Another reason why I promote finding a good boat captain so these people who want a guaranteed result, immediate gratification can see them in their habitat by a seasoned boat captain who knows how to respect them and knows where they are.
The experience is a thousand times better and they won't ever buy a ticket at Sea whatever!!
@@catheyahannas3240yes that is good I think sometimes people are lazy
Just like how they treat cars they don’t want to repair it themselves
They go to repair shops that do it for them
And again they are lazy to drive all the way to a ocean to look at them
They think
“ why drive all the way out to see a ocean to see these whales when you could ride a roller coaster and see them too
I went to sea world and watched the orcas and my heart just broke for them. They were just so sad and listless. I know what you are saying.
Why did you buy a ticket lady thats what keeps them in their
@@itsolivialol9660 Agreed.
Whenever I am having a bad day or feel like I can’t go on :: I think of Lolita and remember to fight just like she does everyday
Ingrid,I ❤️ yøur wørk!!Yøu're øne of the best captivity activists I've ever heard øf!!I løve høw yøu løve animals and I løve høw yøu løve that yøu rescue ørcas that are stranded.
At least she free at last RIP LOLITA
R.I.P. poor Lolita ❤
Thank you for your job It is so sad to see Lolita like this. She is realy amazing to made that for so long im realy impressed
I am so freaking upset. Like I'm seriously crying my eyes out & I'm so upset. I dont understand how this is still going on? And how is this acceptable?? Especially in 2020! Please let me know what i can do to help... I'm sadly unemployment at the moment. Lost my job i was at for over 11 years... So it's been a little bit of a struggle. But if i can sign a petition or something. I'd be more than happy to. And Dr. Ingrid you are truly one of Gods angels. Bless your heart. You are truly one amazing person. ~Hugs~
Krista Capstin Sign a petition? Bless your heart. Please do not exert yourself.
As a child, the one time I went, i couldn't have noticed that the stadium size for customers is way larger thsn the the tanks for these God created creatures
After almost 10 years of this video, Lolita is finally free!!!! 🎉
How many more animals have to be sacrificed in the name of greed? When this article was published, Lolita was still alive; now, due to mistreatment, lack of good care, and because of the greed of the “owners “, she’s gone, and never had the chance to enjoy a full life.
Dr Visser I love your opinion and your work !!
I love you Dr Ingrid. Please keep doing what you're doing.
So sad!! She should be back with her family. Hopefully soon she will be out of that hell hole!!! Hang in there Lolita sending prayers! 🙏🙏🙏
God that is disgraceful on so many levels!!
Yep!!!
Zeljko Trifunovic please. Spare me your rant ok? Keep your head buried in the sand like all of the other Sea World supporters that think captivity is the best place for these smart creatures!! Leave this discussion to the adults and go back to your playpen. Stay out of things you don't understand please.
@@christinailes7846 Well said
Disturbed Orca Thank you❤️
Christina Iles You’re *wHaLeCoMe*
Okay, I’ll leave.
It is just heart breaking to see this :(. So many whales in desperate need of help, what can I do to help?
There is only one way to see the orcas lolita, corky in freedom, raise a daily prayer to God ask for the freedom of the orcas, the way you would like them to be free, ask evangelicals of faith to help you pray for the freedom of the orcas, then God will change the heart of stone to the owners of these marine parks who will feel so much empathy for the orcas that they will only think of leaving them free, there is no other way otherwise they will never be free and ask God that they do not die in captivity without knowing freedom
These places are NEVER going to release these animals... they're going to stall and stall and stall until the animal is dead. Someone ought to do something more extreme than lawsuits...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Lolita, the orca Dr. Visser.
INGRID is a force of nature .... An inspiration the human race could should be made to listen.
I love Ingrid. She's my idol. God bless her and everything she's done for Orcas
@Zeljko Trifunovic Take your religious bullshit somewhere else.
I can’t believe she’s still alive in there
I watch a lot of Orca videos because they're so fascinating, and realised while watching this that I could to a birthday fundraiser for the sanctuary on facebook (I wasn't going to do one this year). And it's there on the list, to my great delight. So glad for the inspiration, and I hope it becomes a reality soon.
It's really sad to see a fantastical animal in these conditions, unable to see the ocean and experience its own culture that is recorded thanks to researchers and scientists such as Dr. Ingrid, and also known by its as diverse as usHello ingrid I am very happy with your work with orcas, you are a really professional biologist and I thank you for sharing with the rest, your observations. Thank you very much, go ahead.
Thanks for sharing 🤙
Can we at least make a new law that requires Seaworld to have a tank at least the size of a football field and the cost would outweigh the benefit so then maybe they would be forced to release them !
In one of the other videos you asked how this can be educational, well I saw the 55 dollar ticket price, that should answer the question, its always been about MONEY, how dare them and shame on anyone who pays for this which is the sole reason they are selling those tickets, people need to stand up and say " THIS IS WRONG"
Even better, close Seaworld for good!
Yes!!
This isn't seaworld
808natee correct but it is Seaworld that houses and mis treats killer whales, they now say this is coming to an end. I hope and pray this is true.
Seaworld has ended it's captive orca breeding program. What you see in this video is Miami Seaquarium which is an absolutely pathetic orca pool barely bigger than an average swimming pool. Heck, even a human would get bored in a tank the size of that, let alone an orca that travels for miles everyday. Seaworld is certainly no paradise for orcas, but it would be able to offer Lolita a significantly better environment than this shitty pool in Miami Seaquarium which needs to be shutdown forever. I give Seaworld credit for making improvements and responding to public pressure. What has Miami Seaquarium done to improve its pools for Lolita? Nothing!
March 30, 2023: New videos, hours old, say that they have decided to return "Lolita" to the Pacific-Northwest waters of her home, and that they expect that to be done in the next 2 years. They say her initial sea-pen will be the size of two football fields (later to increase in size), netted in, that she will be fed by caretakers and be tended and have continued vet care, that she'll be able to communicate with her kind and kin. They said she is now 56 years old, that she's been in captivity for 53 years, that her 95 yo mother is still alive, and that "Lolita" was very ill (respiratory infection) last year, but that she has greatly improved, and is able to travel. That report said her travel expenses are covered. Apparently, she was retired last year, so from their business perspective, I'm sure they see her as no longer bringing in any money, but costing a great deal to maintain and feed. Such captivities in the first place were immoral. Wishing her the very best!
Oh my parents took us to sea world in San Diego when I was-like 10 yrs something like that. We found it amazing that we could see such a gorgeous-beautiful animal so close, I even took my son when he was younger in early 2000, but now that I’ve taken more of an interest in Orca ( and have come across Dr. Visser’s page) -. I am disgusted with how the Orca now appear to me in captivity @ Sea World I will NOT be buying a ticket anymore - ever! As much as I want to see these beautiful animals It is too disgusting and it’s very sad . If we want to see orcas live, we will go whale watching in the Monterey Bay out here in California and enjoy them in their natural surroundings. Thank you for these videos I would love to help do anything I can to save and get them out of captivity.
Personally I can't do much at my age and financial status. I have been aware of this kind of situation for years. I just make sure to pass along my feelings to my grandson. Thank you Dr. Visser. I hope someday that you are able to go on Joe Rogan's podcast.
If I could say some words of wisdom to that guy I would straightly say "that person you put in a fish bowl has a family she wants to go home but you've got her trapped and one day when you show up to work she's gonna be at the bottom, with just that one wish she's been holding on for 42 years"
Keep up the good work, Mrs. Visser. This degradation of our fellow beings MUST stop.
Thank you for sharing these with us
I love your videos. Keep fighting we all need to fight for all animals in captivity.
Watching in July 2019 and fear her fate will be similar to Tilikum's - dying in captivity. I also want to express that I am NOT an orca/marine life expert by any means. I am an advocate who agrees with Dr. Visser, and the more I learn, the more I see these marine parks as "circusy." When I went to Miami Seaquarium as a child I remember being in awe of this animal to the point I began having dreams about orcas. I remember wanting to work w her and calling the park to inquire on how to volunteer and clearly remember that you have to be at least 18-years-old to work with the marine mammals. Today as an adult I can clearly realize that there are NO experts at the age of 18 - just kids and this aquarium, in particular, is NOT a conservation/educational facility. Truly very sad and inhumane.
Rest in peace Lolita ;_;
I get very sad and angry when i look these. How cruel people are :( Dr Visser you're a wonderful
Thank you ♥️ Dr Ingrid.
I couldn't even finish watching, my ❤ broke
I’ve seen a dolphin in the wild and in captivity.And there was a huge difference between it
@6:15 Woah. I didn’t know they’ve been on this retirement plan for over 10 years 😭
does anyone feel cold in their hearts while watchig this like me ???
Ingrid's work is inspirational.
She’s dying everyday she is there! Her mother is still alive as well as some other family members ! What can we do ! I can’t stand this.
I’ve been living in Miami for over 20 years and I’ve always had a certain love and fascination for these animals, ironically I ended up working at a company where all the pumps for all the pools at the Seaquarium were repaired and if they needed it new ones we will sell them too I’ve never for some reason went to the Seaquarium and after learning about their lives and how cruel it is to keep these beautiful animals in captivity it gave me more reasons not to ever go to one of these places it’s heartbreaking 💔 this animal abuse at its best there is no other way to describe it my only wish is that all of them around that are kept in captivity can be released to a rehab place and the can live free it’s just painful to watch
This story broke my heart !!! Sorry I can’t watch thick ! As I’ll cry
It makes me sick that that pool is that small! Isn't there something activists can do to release that poor orca.
She's being prepared to be returned home as we speak. Toki is GOING HOME!
It's also been shown that her tank is leaking, and one of the windows is cracking at the bottom of the tank, she won't last much longer in that environment, and neither will the tank hold her for long now
I hope that there is a special hell for the owner. Life isn’t fair but through the injustice of one, many learn. Many have. I’m sorry Lolita u have to suffer for so long. What an amazing being to stay strong for so long. I hope there is a special heaven for you dear old girl and all that you have given.
Like Morgan , Lolita needs saving too, please Ingrid do all you can , we're all in your corner, fighting with you.
I'm so sorry Lolita.
Brings me to tears anytime I can actually summon the courage to watch one of these videos. When I was a child, all I wanted was to grow up and work at seaworld so I could be near these beautiful animals every day. My favorite movie was Free Willy and I would watch them all repeatedly. Resist the urge people, educate your children to have respect for animals, and treat all beings on Earth the way you want to be treated. I have NEVER and will NEVER buy a ticket!!!
Ditto!
It has finally been announced they have agreed to release Lolita back into the wild!! to be with her pod and be with her mother again.
Already a high chance it won't happen. NOAA will have to sign off on it and they can't do that when not a single application has been filed.
Bless you Dr. Visser This is about making money, not education!
Really interested to know what effect (if any) the loud music has on these animals when it's pounding through loud speakers and amps on a daily basis.
me too, but no studies on it...
Thank you for doing this story on Lolita. I hope that it gets around. I wish you could do studies and stories on all of them, here in the United States. I am ashamed that people are actually brainwashed into thinking captivity is good for the whales. We have no right whatsoever to own these beautiful creatures, in my opinion.
Years ago I went to sea world n felt sick and sad this cruelty that was my education the feeling it must stop imprisoning these beautiful creatures - well done dr visser for your essential education for the world!
disgusting how they could do this, just cruel