Fifty years after her capture, Orca Network, tribes renew pledge to bring her home

Honoring the 50th anniversary of her capture in Penn Cove, the Orca Network has pledged once again to bring Tokitae home and free her from captivity during their annual Penn Cove Anniversary Commemoration Saturday afternoon.

This was the first year that the event was held digitally, but the organizers acknowledged that it allowed more people from around the world to be able to join and hear Tokitae’s story. Around 210 people joined the Aug. 8 webinar.

Tokitae, also known as Lolita, was one of nearly 100 Southern Resident orca whales that were herded into Penn Cove in Whidbey Bay back in August 1970. She was one of seven orcas taken to marine parks around the world, but she has been the only living survivor since 1987.

Tokitae was taken to the Miami Seaquarium where she remains.

“It’s momentous, extraordinary that she’s still alive and doing well. She seems to be healthy and doing quite well,” Orca Network co-founder Howard Garrett said.

In the event that she were to be released or moved due to economic conditions, the Orca Network has proposed a retirement plan to house her at Glenwood Springs in Orcas Island as a temporary venue, before gradually releasing her into her native waters.

“She was around four years old when she was captured, so she knows everything about her family and group from before she was captured. I don’t see any reason to believe that she doesn’t have any knowledge of her family before,” said Cindy Hansen, education coordinator for the Orca Network.

Appearances were made by author Sandra Pollard, members of the Lummi and Samish nations and the Swinomish Tribe, another group of activists stationed in Miami and others during the three-hour event.

“She can feel our intentions and ambitions to bring her home,” Orca Network co-founder Susan Berta. “And I hope she can feel our heart and emotions as well. We will bring you home.”

This story was originally published August 9, 2020 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Fifty years after her capture, Orca Network, tribes renew pledge to bring her home."