Those who fought to bring Tokitae home reeling in the aftermath of the orca's sudden death

Vigils in Langley on Whidbey Island and in Miami Florida were held in honor of Tokitae's passing on Saturday night.
Tokitae was the last Southern Resident orca living in captivity. She was captured from Whidbey Island's Penn Cove in August of 1970. She spent the rest of her life living and performing at the Miami Seaquarium.
Her death is an unexpected blow to many who advocated for her return to the Salish Sea. Now, those who pushed to bring her home are saying there's still much work to be done.
Read the full story here: www.king5.com/...

[@Tony-ux4tr]

Please stop putting these animals into tanks. They belong in the ocean.

[@milagroscamacho7481]

When people stop paying to watch these live crime events. Maybe they'll stop couse won't be profitable for them. Sorry for all the people who pay for it they have a part on their hands

[@sue8237]

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THIS WHALE'S DEATH. I wouldn't be surprised if the Aquarium "planned" or at least hoped for it. She was a total liability to them now that she could no longer perform. They didn't even respect her enough to keep her tank clean - you wouldn't let a guppy live there, let alone this magnificent creature if you cared about and RESPECTED her. Reports are that they were giving her rotten food. How long can an animal live like this? Who does that to an animal and doesn't face abuse charges???? And now they were going to have to bear the huge expense of returning her to Puget Sound. I don't think they wanted to put one more dime into her. Her care alone must amount to animal abuse and the Aquarium should be held accountable. I hope there's a special place in Hell for those responsible.

[@wrennewman6868]

That's exactly what I'm thinking too.

[@sue8237]

@@wrennewman6868 What if we all contacted the Humane Society of the US or the ASPCA about looking into it?

[@wrennewman6868]

@@sue8237 That would be great but I'm sure they already know about it. I hope this poor whale didn't die as a pawn in a sick game but that's exactly how that looks to me as well.

[@vickichilds8137]

I believe she did. She was left languisining in a putrid bathtub when no longer 'profitable' Absolutely evil. @@wrennewman6868

[@GG4elite7942]

They had so much time to move that whale this is inhumane

[@abaddon2148]

msq were never actually going to bring tokitae back. 2 mos of twiddling their thumbs brought us this. criminal...

[@ChildofGod314]

These Animals are treated SO Horribly. They make "Families" out of who they think is a good idea and then the animals torture each other not adapting 😢

[@Jdm509richland]

Wow she never made it back to the ocean. 😢 she died a slave. She died of sadness her fin was already flopping over.

[@MarisolGonzalez-dg6wl]

I totally agree with you. The aquariums only like to exploit this magnificent animals . Is so sad that's why some of the whales turn very violent.

[@Quantolosophy]

Reeling this has to end. She should have been freed YEARS AGO.

[@RebeLeigh]

So heartbreaking and angering!

[@sue8237]

Thousands of people so, so pissed at this injustice . . ..

[@MarisolGonzalez-dg6wl]

I'm one of those people angry of the injustice. They should of done it faster.

[@sue8237]

@@MarisolGonzalez-dg6wl I don't think they were ever planning to spend that kind of $$ on her. One report said they were feeding her rotten food. Look at the condition of that tank. I think they wanted her to die since she could no longer perform/bring in $$. There's probably insurance $$ to be collected on her, as well. A National watch group needs to get in on the investigation. I won't be satisfied till they do.

[@91bt]

they stole this beautiful creature from her home & family. animals are not for human entertainment.

[@IGIG-m4u]

Good, then get rid of your dog or cat.

[@memewithinameme35]

@@IGIG-m4u that's an animal that's been domesticated alongside us and scientifically proven to respond to human emotion and words with relative meaning. diff between a wild animal with thousands of miles of range as it's natural habitat vs. wherever people are giving them a food source.

[@abaddon2148]

​@@IGIG-m4u bro doesn't know the difference between a domesticated and feral animal💀

[@nunyabisniss1179]

Kidnapped and held in captivity for 50 years. Just for entertainment for humans. How wonderful to do this to one of the earths largest creatures meant to swim the the oceans. How vile. Barbaric in 2023

[@troybailey6904]

Rest in Peace

[@Tony-ux4tr]

Please stop putting oils into tanks. This is so wrong. These animals need to be in the ocean. They need to swim far places and they have a life just like you do. Do you want to be in a cage?

[@matthewfajardo8461]

When Raynell speak I get so emotional ::: I feel her energy so much ( apologies for misspelling )

[@vickichilds8137]

They euth'd her then rushed her body out of there to hide their crimes. What an absolute life of abject misery. May you be free in death, a liberty you were denied by evil vile humans.

[@wrennewman6868]

Now she's free. Forever. As it should be. ❤

[@lisalim6344]

I love these advocates!!! I love people

[@sepnyte9422]

Her spirit is home already. It came home the second she died.

[@matthewfajardo8461]

I’m devastated and disgusted ::: my pet bird also died this week :: my heart can’t take it

[@WitchdoctorOKC]

Poor sweet whale❤

[@letrimble326]

What's about Li'i the dauphin? He is alone now without toki. He needs to be saved too.

[@ilsepardalis]

Friens of Toki (how ironic) needs to be investigated !!! They profited from Kiska and Toki but failed her !!!! investigate where all those donations went to

[@smariegalski3641]

Shut these parks down!

[@suesanders1169]

She didn't WANT to leave the " home" she has ( had ) known for the past 53 years. She may not have even lasted 53 years in the wild? The stress of the unknown may have killed her. 🤷‍♀️

[@dlthedon5]

Murdered?

[@milagroscamacho7481]

Criminals, and now they are sorry and hurting?

[@lynndragoman2454]

Cheaper to let it die feeding it rotten fish than to pay big bucks transporting across the country

[@suesanders1169]

I'm hoping that is just a suspicion of yours?

[@IGIG-m4u]

That’s what I said.

[@nunyabisniss1179]

​@@suesanders1169You know that orca are predators and hunt? Lolita was ripped from the ocean, sold to a human to make money, period. Her food was dead fish. Did you ever see a killer whale kill a live seal at SeaWorld, NO!!

[@aliciazombie8699]

@@suesanders1169 unfortunately they were exposed a couple years ago for feeding her rotten fish :(

[@WarrenAAndrews]

Never leave a message at the Sea World hotline. They might use your call for training porpoises.

[@MrLakersHater]

Free Willy!

[@MM-bb6mp]

🙏🏼💙🐳🌈

[@brandonwaugh5109]

Does anyone know what they did with her body? I watched the video of her being lifted out of the tank and driven away in a semi but i haven't read where they took her.

[@krisfinley6706]

An article from the Miami Herald says she was taken to the University of Georgia for a necropsy to determine the exact cause of death. No answer yet as to what happens to her afterwards. They better not dispose of her in a landfill like they did with her partner Hugo!🤬

[@mikecude4167]

Bring her remains home? 🫤

[@JST-bc5te]

Rest in Peace