miaMI, fLA. (snn tv) – a BELOVED ORCA WHALE NAMED, “LOLITA,” DIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
OFFICIALS AT THE MIAMI SEAQUARIUM SAY “LOLITA,” ALSO KNOWN AS “TOKI,” PASSED AWAY FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE A RENAL CONDITION.
THE POPULAR KILLER WHALE SPENT MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AT THE SEAQUARIUM AFTER ARRIVING FROM THE PUGET SOUND NEAR WASHINGTON STATE.
LOLITA WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 57 YEARS OLD, MAKING HER ONE OF THE OLDEST KILLER WHALES IN CAPTIVITY.
THROUGH THE YEARS, SHE PERFORMED FOR COUNTLESS GUESTS.
MIAMI SEAQUARIUM OFFICIALS SAY PRIOR TO LOLITA’S DEATH, SHE WAS “EATING WELL,” SWIMMING LAPS AND SOLICITING ATTENTION FROM HER TRAINERS.
THEN, SHE SUDDENLY BEGAN EXHIBITING SERIOUS SIGNS OF DISCOMFORT, WHICH A FULL MEDICAL TEAM ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY AND AGGRESSIVELY, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS.
A SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE WAS POSTED BY THE SEAQUARIUM IN MEMORY OF LOLITA SAYING, “YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING US EVERY DAY.”
MIAMI SEAQUARIUM CLOSED ITS DOORS SATURDAY IN REMEMBRANCE OF LOLITA. THEY WILL RE-OPEN ON SUNDAY.
MIAMI SEAQUARIUM ANNOUNCED IN MARCH THAT THERE WERE PLANS TO MOVE LOLITA BACK TO HER HOME WATERS IN THE PACIFIC WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
