HI!!!!! EWould you be kind enugh to sign this??

[FreeLolita]

Hi everyone!!! How are you all? Haven’t been on here on a looooong while!! Actually, I have rather an important question to ask you all
I have thought about doing this for a long time –and now I have finally done it!!! I have created a petition about something I feel strongly about, as I am sure you do, and I would be VERY grateful if you would be kind enough to sign it.
It is to help Lolita/ Tokitae, the orca im sure you all know about. I know there are a LOT of petitions like mine, I just wanted to play my part in helping her to get back to her homeland.
If you could sign this I would be so grateful, it would mean a lot to me
I cannot express my gratitude if you do sign it, or even just to take a look at it, thank you so much xxx
Here’s the link:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/853709164

[Fritillary]

Hello there

I have some questions about if it is right to free this orca. Maybe I am wrong, but that is why I would like to know.

1) If she has been taken since 1970, and lived in a small tank with disponibility of food all this time, Will she be able to learn to chasse and have communication with the other orcas? Will she able to swim long distances without be tired?

Well I know that gregarious animals that have been taken away from their group, cannot integrate again.... unfortunately.

2) Other is about her age, generally animals live longer in captivity than in the wild. But you say that if she is free, she will be 50... How this can be possible?. I want to say if an animal is sick in nature , it will be attacked by predators. In cautivity, they can live longer because of the care of humans. For example the Darwin's Turtle.
If in worst of cases, she has been mal nourrished during all this time in cautivity, I dont think she is going to change her longevity if she is free.

All these questions come to me, because I read this is one of the main problems in conservation of species. Turtles, birds, monkeys, etc, that have been collected from homes were they lived as pets, and taken to a centre with the objetive of put them free in nature.
This cannot been done because the animals dont have idea how to get food, a partner and reproduce themselves in nature.


Well thanks and good luck with your petition

[eeyore]

I tend to agree with frittilary - a lot of people seem to think that releasing an animal from captivity is simply a matter of letting it go. Not so - succesful re intro schemes rely on expensive and prolonged rehabilitation teaching the animal how to be wild.

if she is free'd how is she going to feed herself, look after herself, and reintegrate with orca society - being alone, starving, and under constant act by predators won't be much more of a life than she has at present.

It might make more sense to campaign for better conditions in her captivity than for her release.

[Oy]

Originally Posted by eeyore

It might make more sense to campaign for better conditions in her captivity than for her release.

Now THAT makes sense!

[Captain Kev]

Here's some info on Cetacean releasing, the most famous case being Keiko the Killer whale that starred in the "Free Willy" films.
It's clear that some releases require substantial funds to make sure the animal is habituated Ok, funds that might be better spent preventing the capture of them for use as entertainment in the first place. It seems that animals that have lived in captivity most of their lives don't allways want to lose human company.


http://csiwhalesalive.org/csi95301.html


http://www.savethewhales.org/captivity.html


www.rockisland.com/~orcasurv/releases.htm

[wildone]

Originally Posted by eeyore

It might make more sense to campaign for better conditions in her captivity than for her release.

I agree with Eeyore and Oy. She has had a vile live due to humans, can we now not make life as good for her as possible without releasing her?

[Captain Kev]

But well done "Freelolita" for caring and having the courage to stand up for what you believe.

Keep up the good work, hope these most sensible replies have helped.

[Fritillary]

It seems that animals that have lived in captivity most of their lives don't allways want to lose human company.

it is true . You remains me something that amazed me as a child: lucky birds, they are too used to humans that never leaved the cage. In Mexico some people have birds in small cages, selling the "luck". If you are interested in knowing your luck (like horoscopes) you give some money and the bird's owner open the little cage's door. The bird comes out of the cage, take a little paper of a box and give to the person. The bird receives some food and comes into the cage again and you read what the paper said about your luck.

Birds never fly away. If they were obliged to fly probably would die or they would arrived to a house to be trapped again.


look at the web page
http://flickr.com/photos/57029257@N00/84522311/

Fritillary