What did Lolita look like through the years at the Miami Seaquarium? See for yourself

Jeff Kleinman
·2 min read

Lolita, the performing orca at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years, may live out her years in freedom.

Despite many hurdles ahead, the Virginia Key theme park and a group of volunteers announced plans on March 30 to release Lolita back home to the Pacific Northwest.

KNOW MORE: ‘Historic’ deal clears way to move killer whale from Miami

Lolita has been a part of Miami since 1970, when she was captured and brought to the Seaquarium to perform with another killer whale, Hugo. After his death in 1980, Lolita has been a solo act.

Here is a look at Lolita through the years:

The beginning

Jim Turner serenades the killer whales, Hugo, left, and Lolita, at the Seaquarium. with Bach sonatas on his musical saw. Turner played for 20 minutes to the attentive pair, and tagged them “a great audience.”
Jim Turner serenades the killer whales, Hugo, left, and Lolita, at the Seaquarium. with Bach sonatas on his musical saw. Turner played for 20 minutes to the attentive pair, and tagged them “a great audience.”
Lolita, formerly known as Tokitae, was captured in August, 1970 during a mass capture of killer whales in Penn Cove, Washington State. It was taken to the Seattle Aquarium and sold to the Seaquarium that same month.
Lolita, formerly known as Tokitae, was captured in August, 1970 during a mass capture of killer whales in Penn Cove, Washington State. It was taken to the Seattle Aquarium and sold to the Seaquarium that same month.
Hugo and Lolita perform in the 1970s.
Hugo and Lolita perform in the 1970s.

Capture: Lolita was captured in Puget Sound in Washington state in 1970 and brought to the Miami Seaquarium, where she began performing.

Partner: When she arrived in Miami, she began performing with the Seaquarium’s star attraction at the time, Hugo the killer whale. They performed together for 10 years. Hugo died in 1980 of a brain aneurysm.

Tale of the tape

Lolita the killer whale, now known as Toki, performs in her stadium tank. She’s about 57 years old and was the main attraction at Miami Seaquarium for decades.
Lolita the killer whale, now known as Toki, performs in her stadium tank. She’s about 57 years old and was the main attraction at Miami Seaquarium for decades.

Measurements and age: Lolita is 57 years old, 20 feet long and 7,000 pounds. She has been living in a 20-foot-deep tank.

Name: Her stage name is Lolita. Trainers call her Tokitae or Toki.

A Miami Seaquarium trainer feeds Lolita, a killer whale, on Thursday, October 12, 2017. The sea life exhibit and attraction will be re-opening on October 13 after suffering damage from hurricane Irma.
A Miami Seaquarium trainer feeds Lolita, a killer whale, on Thursday, October 12, 2017. The sea life exhibit and attraction will be re-opening on October 13 after suffering damage from hurricane Irma.

Investigation

Her tank size and conditions have been an issue for years, and Lolita has not been performing for several months after a USDA investigation and health issues.

‘Free Lolita’

Campaign: She was the focus of a “Free Lolita” campaign, even before the movies “Blackfish” and “Free Willy” intensified the effort, and has been in the spotlight at PETA-led protests in front of the attraction.

Killer whales or whale killers?

Lolita, Miami Seaquarium’s orca, swims in her tank Wednesday morning, Sept. 12, 2018, during play time with her trainers. American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare and well-being, was on hand at the Miami Seaquarium to announce a certification earned by the Miami Seaquarium. American Humane says that the park passed rigorous and lengthy third-party audits to join fewer than two dozen institutions in the United States in earning the certification.

Dolphin family: Killer whales like Lolita are orcas, members of the dolphin family. In a reversal of their nickname, they can be whale killers. A study has found they kill and eat blue whales in the wild.