Miami Seaquarium Husbandry Behaviors for Orcas and Dolphins

[IAmADalek]

MSQ, takes great care of the animals they have. Lolita's lived there so long and is really healthy and they probably have the best breeding program for Pacific White Sided dolphins in the world. Do I think she should stay in that tiny pool, not at all. Will she ever leave, no. The stress would kill her. I just wish she had gone somewhere bigger just after Hugo died. I don't see them ever getting another Orca after her.

[EwanStewartFan]

Miami Seaquarium ... come see slaves ... -.- god i hate that place .... poor Tokitae!

[thesiobon]

Poor Lolita :'( she needs a bigger tank.

[ALoveForOrcas]

What do i think about msq? . . . . . send the animals to somewhere where they will be happy for once and then . . . . BURN IT TO THE GROUND!!!!

[howphancy]

Oh, so Miami Seaquarium takes such great care of their marine mammals, huh? So, why then did they allow the HIV/AIDS White Party to take place on their property last friday November 25th, 2011???? Blaring techno music and booming fireworks must do wonders for the extremely sound-sensitive orcas and dolphins. Great Job Miami Seaquarium at taking care of the animals under your 'husbandry care' you morons!

[FightingForFreedom10]

WTF stop poking and proding her, and let her free!

[LetTokitaeGoHome]

Stop comparing Lolita to keiko!! Keiko wasn't a faliure! He died in the wild like they should and Pneumonia is a common death cause with killer whales. The only problem was that they didn't locate his family. With Lolita it's no problem,she's from L-pod and L-25 (Ocean Sun) is most likely her mother so putting her in a seapen in Washington would be great for her + Seaworld aint anything better!! They're really abusing Tilikum!!

[123stefen]

Keeping an animal captive is selfish....

[RavenOrca]

I can understand pro-caps even with my "anti-cap brain", but noone can support that place and be mentaly healthy... "the horror, the horror..."

[lageyrej]

@HiLaXx

I am a trainer at Miami seaquarium and we take care for and love the animals we have there and if u don't hav anything nice to say, don't say it anything at all!!

[alyenvy]

@lageyrej Since when did rust and loneliness go hand in hand with "taking care" of an animal far greater than you will ever be.

[LetTokitaeGoHome]

@lageyrej not to be rude or anything but how come Lolita being held in a tank that is 20 feet deep and 35 feet wide at it's widest and no orca companion for 31 years?? I'm looking forward to hear from you.

[peace2399]

BAD



[HiLaXx]

these trainers should die.

sorry but..

[alyenvy]

SAVE LOLITA!

I can't believe my professor actually linked this video for an assignment. Blasphemy!

[BardleyCfan]

@alyenvy they can not release her back into the wild. look at what happen to Keiko!! The best thing to do is send her to seaworld!!!

[alyenvy]

@BardleyCfan Did I even mention releasing her back into the wild? But no, there are oceanic reserves that would be much better than a resort swimming pool. And she could still be hand fed; however socialized with other orcas. And who said anything about sea world? They aren't much better.

[MegaSnakefan]

srew the miami seaprison

[Shamu21nasa]

I'm a procap, but I don't support the Miami Seaquarium. There are procaps like that you know.

[aquariumferry]

I hate miami seaquarium

[catherinelowe1981]

The world is soooo cruel, read about Lolita's situation. She is just one of the whales there! They are literally dying to entertain people who should know better

[ChrisDeFedele]

preserve our oceans? half of those animals were kidnapped, this is brutality, i mean if they have to keep the, give them better living conditions, this place is sick and cruel

[7eated9]

Everyone hates you in the comments RYAN

[TheFuggernaut]

@7eated9 removed this comment dont say my name (and no they hate the park)

[vrocka617]

they need to shut this place down

[dogthecoop]

I would never visit this aquarium, Lolita's cement bowl is far too small, she's also a social animal which has been housed ALONE for many years. Orca's are the ultimate notion of "freedom". Lolita and all other captive, imprisoned animals are denied their right to roam the open ocean with their families. It's always been about MONEY, and it always will be!! Pro caps will support this grim life for mammals because they're simply ignorant.

[AniuLonewolf]

as a veterinary technician student this video was very awesome to watch

i've always wanted to work with dolphins and orcas... thanks for posting this :)

[tmyrac]

please let lolita go she needs to be freed

[Smunc100]

I jus want to say Miami Seaquarium is bad due to the tank size and what they did to hugo but the seaworld in Orlando is much better because they only captured 2 orcas out of all the orcas at seaworld and I know this because I know someone who works there at seaworld and that's what she told me

[DarkTripods07]

Fack Free lolita!!!! 

[Cranma5678]

@DarkTripods07 freeing her would only kill her! she just needs a way bigger tank a way bigger one and maybe a friend cause it must be lonely but maybe she is fine with her trainers and the dolphins.

[AniuLonewolf]

@Cranma5678 she had been living in the free ocean before she was captured

she can be freed again and join her pod and still know how to hunt and live in the wild

[Cranma5678]

@AniuLonewolf yes but thats really risky considering her pod might not take her back, she might not want to go back, she might not know what to do, and the whole transportation might kill her.

[beth01021]

@2cute24get11 Also, you probably should get your information straight because orca's don't just live in glacial regions. I am from Canada and we have orca's year round near my home on the coast of British Columbia, and we certainly do NOT have glaciers. The water is extremely warm compared to waters in the arctic regions that you are talking about.

[beth01021]

@2cute24get11 Yeah I agree with you there, but lets get real, training this whale in this small, small tank is supporting this inhumane behaviour. I don't have too much against aquariums as I believe they are educational, but why do we support such a small facility that is no doubt detrimental to Lolita's tank.

[bailylover99]

bad



[124yuppers]

Aw, I remember watching this video when I was probably, around 7 at the camps! I really wish they would give up Lolita!

[LolitainMiami]

In Captivity: No aquarium pool can come close to comparing with the vast and engaging natural habitat of the orca. More than 190 orcas have died due to captivity since 1961, whether in the violent capture process or in the tank itself.

[LolitainMiami]

Their dorsal fins often flop over. The cartilage bends from swimming around in constant tight circles. Cetaceans may go crazy in captivity due to their own echolocating. Sonar sounds bounce off the tank walls and back at them since there is nothing to absorb it. Marine mammals have been known to commit suicide in captivity because of frustration and lack of stimuli .

[Shamurocksuk1]

@LolitainMiami Did you know that most of what we know about cetacean sonar comes from research with captive animals?

marineanimalwelfare . com / sonar . htm

Also the same website has an article on dolphin "suicide" you might fins interesting. marineanimalwelfare . com / suicide . htm

[metridium]

@Shamurocksuk1 That's complete B.S.

[metridium]

@Shamurocksuk1 Captive studies have been

known to give erroneous / misleading information, not borne

out by comparative studies on wild animals and researchers

using captive animals have admitted that the constraints put on

cetaceans, such as small pool sizes limiting natural behaviors,

lead to biases in their results. Naomi A. Rose-PhD-2009

[Shamurocksuk1]

@metridium Not really related to my point. I posted this to Lolitainmiaimi because of what they posted about sonar in captive whales. I made no comment as to whether the studies were reliable or not.

I posted the links because they come from a less biased source then most.

[LolitainMiami]

Captive orcas have attacked and even killed their own trainers, as well as park guests. On the other hand, wild orcas have never harmed a human. Lolita is the last surviving orca captured from the Southern Resident Pods. At least 50 other orcas, from the same community, have died in captivity or from the captures.

[2cute24get11]

@LolitainMiami I am pro captivity, but my comment isn't related to that. I just have to say that of course wild orcas have never harmed a human, they live around glaciers! Any person who jumped in the water would probably drown or die from shock before one of the orcas could approach them. I'm not upset about your opinion on captivity cause we all think differently I can appreciate that.

[dolphingirl824]

@LolitainMiami see im torn on if being in captivity is bad or not because out in the wild were still killing them. wether they're being hunted or pollution or taking them into captivity, i mean they're are countless ways of humans harming not just orcas but dolphins in the wild too, so letting them be out in the wild out of captivity may not be the answer either. I think being bred into captivity is okay but taking them into captivity and keeping them there is bad.

[LolitainMiami]

In Captivity: No aquarium pool can come close to comparing with the vast and engaging natural habitat of the orca. More than 190 orcas have died due to captivity since 1961, whether in the violent capture process or in the tank itself. Their dorsal fins often flop over.

[bwaycraz3d84]

I feel so bad for all the animals at this place, especially Lolita. Killer whales are huge animals, and need space. In addition, killer whales are known to rely on emotional responses & emotional support. Having her in isolation and a small tank is ILLEGAL and something needs to be done about it! I will never support that place. I want to be a trainer, but I know I will NEVER work for that place!

[vampirella30]

Most people who give Mr Hertz of Wometco Enterprises the dollars to see Lolitas show dont realise that she was taken from her mother in the wild by men in boats who used explosives in the water to separate the mothers and babies from the males. The males tried to divert the men but the babies could not dive for long and had to come up for air. Then they caught Lolita and the females threw themselves on the nets to try and free her. Some drowned trying. Mr Hertz wont release her to a sea pen .

[julianic81]

I'm about to make a trip to miami and I was thinking to go to the seaquarium but I guess I don't because for my understand this place don't take care of the animals the right way this place need to be close

[TheShamuLova]

This is the most horrible way of keeping animals i hope this park will be closed as soon as possible and the animals should go to seaworld or another ideal park which is keeping orcas for a long time. i think they would better know what this lonley animal needs.

[shey6an]

in the wild or eaten not captive:(

[texxshot]

If she was released now, she most likely would die. Keiko the Whale was released toi the ocean and stayed near the shore, craving humane companionship. Keiko died not even a year after his release from Pneumonia after he refused to leave the cold waters because he wanted to be near his humans.

[hawaiianpony]

@texxshot get your facts straight, Keiko was in Iceland for Five years before he died...not a year. Im sick of hearing it was 15 months or what not.

[RareHonesty]

@texxshot

You are misinformed, he was on his own for a year but he spent 5 years in the ocean coming and going as he pleased from his sea pen. He also did not stay near the shore he swam from Iceland to Norway, 1000 miles across the North Atlantic and re-appeared in good physical condition proving he could take care of himself the only reason he did not fully return to the ocean is because on one could locate his pod a problem Lolita does not have to face

[MARSTHHEDGEHOG]

FREE THE KILLER WHALE U FAGGOTS

[TeamStephenson]

cruel cruel cruel. That tank is tiny. Poor Lolita

[beth01021]

This is awful. The trainers at Miami Seaquarium may not be physically hurting the animals, but to have a killer whale in a tank this size in complete isolation, unprotected from the grueling Miami sun is CRUEL. This whale can barely move in this tank it is so cramped. I don't understand how people can pay and actually enjoy a Miami seaquarium whale show. At least seaworld has bigger tanks, and has companions and cover for the whales.

[2cute24get11]

@beth01021 I don't think people should blame the trainers. They have nothing to do with the size of the tank the animals live in. I totally agree that Lolita's tank is to small, but the people in charge of Miami Seaquarium are the ones who would take care of that.

[ilro14]

i hate miami seaquarium with a passion...especially for what they are doing to lolita.Lolita's tank is way too small for one...and not having the money to build a new one is no excuse...if you can't afford to keep an animal properly than you shoudn't have one...i also don't like the fact that she's housed alone without another orca.that's just unnatural.Miami seaquarium should be shut down and their animals should be released (or if that's not possible), given to a reputable park like sea world

[flargmuffin92]

Miami Seaquarium cant construct a new tank because Miami Dade wont allow it. Granted MSQ brings in quite a few people yearly.. but its not like SW where literally millions upon millions of people visit yearly that allows them to obtain the money they need to contruct new things. Just because an animals tank is below standards doesnt mean it's being abused or neglected, the trainers deeply care about the wellbeing of their animals, its not their fault that their homes are smaller than average

[PamelaMorrison89]

i think it is wrong to put an animals in captivity and make them do tricks and put them in pools. and try to preserve ocean life when people tuck the marine life out of the ocean and Free lolita

she dos not deserve to suffer in a tank like that

[catrina1190]

haaa what a laugh really they act like they love there aninmals when in fact there all being treated like show dogs poor lolita she shouldnt be there she should be in the wild where she was born and ment to stay

[sparklywindsield88]

To answer your question, I think that it's the exhibits that are wrong. They should at least give the animals adaquate room to live in where they can't stand in the tank. But I'm sure that the trainers to love and care deeply about the animals they work with.

[14dlns]

seriously im a minor girl, but i think her name is Emily...

[14dlns]

by the way, not to sound creepy, but does anyone know who that girl is or when this was made. I used to go to the miami seaquarium camps every year, sometimes more then once, i didnt realize how bad it was-but anyway she looks like one of my old camp counselors. A first name's fine. I swear im not perveted even though this sounds like i am!!!

[StarbucksThunder]

Seaquarium's tanks are extremely substandard. Nearly every other aquatic facility in North America has more up to par exhibits for their cetaceans. Seaquarium's "orca bowl" is simply a pathetic mess of cracking cement. I do not recommend visiting the Seaquarium to anyone who truly respects animals.

[fighter4paula]

Ha, to answer your question animaltrainer91, I couldn't be sure if they take good care of the animals, or more specifically Lolita. I assume they at least do proper and well vet care on her, since she is healthy. As for the other animals I'm not sure. This is being filmed, and these people know it, perhaps they are acting some of it up a little bit? But as I said, Lolita is healthy so....I'm not sure to be honest. Either way, I believe Lolita should be relieved of her conditions.

[marinebeauties12]

Hi this is animaltrainer91 under a new account marinebeauties12. Stop assuming tat the Seaquarium is abusing its animals because if they were, the USDA would have seized them all a long time ago.

[14dlns]

@marinebeauties12 they might not be "physically" abusing them by like hitting them ect. but their still keeping them in small tanks with no enrichment in the tank-but hey, that's like every aquarium.

[FighterForPaula1]

But that's the worst kind of assumtion. That the USDA would do something if it were too bad. The truth is, most of the time these things go ignored, even by the animal welfare societies. It's a vague belief to stick to that just because these orginizations don't do anything, it's okay. MSQ just needs some fixing up is all. And bad revenue is no excuse. They get thousands of visitors every month. They've built a new tank already. =) But maybe Hertz is cheap? Even the minor things they don't fix.

[AnkhOrcaLover]

Poor Lolita D:

[X0XemmaleeX0X]

i agree with all of the comments bellow, Its so unfair to keep lolita in a tank thats way to small for an orca.

Do you reckon that the vets and trainers even acknowledge the fact that lolita deserves better??

I beleive it deffs time to return lolita home to the ocean an her family :)

[2cute24get11]

I bet the vets and trainers do realize that her tank is to small, but I don't think they are the ones who can get it changed.

[majaorca100]

it's horrible she's been in there for so many years

[PontiacAlfaHSV]

As far as I can tell she is the ONLY captive orca in need of saving.

[wootirockx]

Agreed.

[TheOriginalCarmay]

Lolita is denied the normal activities and behaviors of an orca. She cant use her echolocation to find food, she cant swim 100 miles per day with her L pod family, nor can she feel the cool waters of Puget Sound or the rhythms of the sea and the flows of the tides. And perhaps the worst is that they have robbed her of the joyous experience of motherhood and the freedom to live her life as she was meant to live it.

[vampirella30]

I wonder how much Mr Hertz would 'love ' Lolita if she stopped making him millions of dollars. Stop going to the clown shows and she has more of a chance of being released. She deserves to be retired to a seapen, or at least a larger tank with other Orcas to talk to. What a sad lonely life, we keep her for our entertainment and our profit. Greedy and cruel.

[ShamuKid]

the reason why her tail is soo hight up his be cuz shes basically standing on her head

[sparxstreak02]

wtf? Lolita's tank IS NOT HUGE ITS A FISH BOWL!

[ramtin97]

lol i wrote huge. i meant small lol. its so small i am amazed!

[peepchick101]

Lolita's tank is so small, it's illegal to USDA standards. Miami Seaquarium is NOT approved by the AZA and Lolita should be confiscated from them. If they cannot provide proper care for such a large, intelligent animal, they should not be allowed to have her. They've made millions of dollars off of her shows.

She is a slave to entertainment in that small concrete tank! As cliche as it sounds, she is! She can't get free, she has no liberties. She is imprisoned alone.. without other orcas.

[MLeyden91]

I am no anti-captivity protester, but the size of that tank is outrageous.

Lolita only has HALF of that show complex, and the poor botlenose dolphins have the other half!

The pool is split in half by the 'stage' and barrers to basically create 2 separate pools.

[ramtin97]

i thought she has babies...

[queenofthevideos]

gd one. This is true and honest. Some day everyone will realize thatthis is all about profit and money and not 'research' or 'education'.

[fighter4paula]

Have the opportunity to see these animals up close? You're right next to the ocean!Has anyone noticed that? Just saying. However this video reveals that the care-takers do admire the animals.

[Goblet0fire]

wow. peepchick actually said something nice for once...

[peepchick101]

I like how they call her "Tokitae" behind the scenes, which was her name in the wild.

[RingneckDoveFan]

lol. Theres a lot of things people don't know about the MSQ. For example they take these tests on Toki everyday..

[D34ThT04LL]

great vid

wanting new friends K8

[oigalera3000]

Amazing video!

[animaltrainer1]

Thanks!