Lolita’s fans are blubbering.
The beloved killer whale who was set to be freed aft𓂃er more than 50 years in captivit𒊎y in a small Miami enclosure has tragically ꦐdied before she could return to the Pacific Ocean.
Lolita, who also went by the name Toki, died of what is believed to be a kidney condition on Friday after showing signs of distress over the previous couple of days, , where 🃏she was a main attraction for 53 years.
“Toki was an ins𓆏pi💃ration to all who had the fortune to hear her story,” the Seaquarium said in a statement on social media.
“Those of us who꧟ have had the honor and privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.”
The 21-foot, 8,000-pound orca was anticipated to be flown froꦍm Miami to her pod’s ඣnative home in Puget Sound in Washington state within the next 2 years as part of a $20 million plan backed by philanthropist and Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay.
“Her story captured my heart, just as it did millions of others. I was honored to be part of the team working to return her to her indigenous home, and I take solace in knowing t🍌hat we significantly improved her living conditions this past year,” Irsay .
“Her spirit and grace have touched so many. Rest in peacౠe, dear Toki.”
Lolita did not live an easy life.
She was taken from her pod in 1970 when she was abo✱ut 4 years old.&nbs♉p;
The killer whale was bought by the Miami Seaquarium and moved to South Florida, where she perform𝕴ed f🤪or audiences until she officially retired last March due to health problems.
In 1980, Lolita lost her mate Hugo to a brain aneurysm he suffered after rep🌱eatedly ramming his head into his tank, .
Pritam Singh, who leads the organization , said Lolita 🧸was a fighter.
“She’s persevered through the difficulties that we human beings have enforced on her,” Singh told USA Today in March.
“She lived through her captivity and the death of her family, she lived through her other family dying, and she lived through being in this small tank for so many years. When you see her, her life force, it just brings you to tears.”
She was one of the oldest orca💝s in captivity at the time of her death.