Lolita, the killer whale that bewitched tens and thousands with its incredible acrobatics at Miami Seaquarium, will be sent back to its natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest, CNN reported as its captors have decided to end its fifty-year-old captivity.
After it was taken from the ocean in 1970 officials disputed its origin from where it belonged.
Eventually, on Thursday, after the agreement by various parties, it was decided that Lolita — also known as Tokitae or Toki- will be returned to the ocean.
Miami Seaquarium in a statement said: “Lolita will receive the highest quality care as the team works to make relocation possible in the next 18 to 24 months.”
“I know Lolita wants to get to free waters. I don’t care what anyone says. She’s lived this long to have this opportunity. And my only mission is (…) to help this whale get free,” said Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Colts owner who is helping to pay for Lolita’s move.
Irsay also said that the cost of relocating it could reach eight figures.