Lolita was captured within the Pacific coast close to Seattle almost 50 years in the past on the age of 4.

Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group through Getty

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Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group through Getty

Lolita was captured within the Pacific coast close to Seattle almost 50 years in the past on the age of 4.

Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group through Getty

Lolita, the oldest orca held in captivity, died on Friday — lower than 5 months after the Miami Seaquarium introduced plans to launch her again into her native ocean waters.

The Seaquarium stated Lolita, believed to be about 57 years outdated, started to exhibit “serious signs of discomfort” over the previous couple of days. Despite medical therapy, the orca died on Friday afternoon after struggling a what seemed to be a “renal condition,” the Seaquarium stated. The aquatic park was closed on Saturday for the workers to mourn the loss.

“Those who have had the privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit,” the Seaquarium stated in a statement.

The Seaquarium didn’t instantly reply to NPR’s request for touch upon extra particulars of her demise.

The orca, initially often known as Tokitae or Toki, was 4 years outdated when she was captured from the Pacific coast close to Seattle. Over the subsequent 5 many years, Lolita turned the the star attraction on the Seaquarium, preforming about twice a day till she was retired in 2022.

Female orcas usually dwell about 50 years “but can live up to at least 90 years in the wild,” according to NOAA Fisheries.

In March of this yr, the Seaquarium announced plans to return Lolita again to the the waters of the Pacific the place she may spend her ultimate days. The choice got here after years of stress from animal rights teams to permit the growing older orca to spend her ultimate days swimming freely in her pure habitat.

But months later, Lolita remained on the aquarium. The Dolphin Company, which owns the Seaquarium, had said that the orca can be relocated someday between October 2024 and April 2025.

Eduardo Albor, the CEO of the Dolphin Company, said he was heartbroken by the loss, including that his affinity for the orca was “love at first sight.”

For many, the information of her demise additionally got here as a shock as a result of the Seaquarium had said on Tuesday that Lolita was in “current stable health” and her situation was “improving.” Signs of her deteriorating well being appeared the subsequent day, in accordance with the aquarium.

Save Lolita, a bunch that had campaigned for the orca’s launch, stated Lolita could by no means have skilled the liberty she deserved however she performed a significant position in bringing consideration to the moral issues round captivity.

“Her story will forever remind us of the urgent need to protect our oceans and the magnificent creatures that call them home,” the group stated in a statement.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stated Lolita’s mistreatment was “unforgivable.”

“You were so close to freedom at a sanctuary, but time ran out. Now you’re finally free from all the pain and suffering,” PETA wrote on X, the social media platform previously often known as Twitter.