Ahead of Tomorrow's Court Decision, 150K Sign Petition to Free Miami Seaquarium Orca

Tomorrow, March 24, Atlanta's 11th Circuit Court of Appeal will consider a lawsuit challenging the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for continuing to renew Miami Seaquarium's exhibition license for Lolita the orca, despite evidence of noncompliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The 11th Circuit hearing is scheduled for 9 AM on Tuesday, March 24, at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building in downtown Miami.

In the lead-up to the court case, a Care2 petition seeking to raise awareness of Lolita's awful conditions and urge the USDA to retire Lolita to a sea-pen has gathered more than 150,000 signatures from orca defenders around the globe. View the Care2 petition here.

Lolita has been kept in a tiny tank at Miami Seaquarium for more than 40 years. The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) has filed a lawsuit claiming the amusement park keeps Lolita in conditions that violate the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, yet the USDA continues to give the Seaquarium an AWA license to operate.

ALDF points out Lolita's enclosure is too small, she isn't protected from harsh sun and inclement weather, and she suffers from lack of companionship.

The Care2 petition urges the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to voluntarily retire Lolita "to a sea-pen where she can be rehabilitated for release to the wild."

Many petition signers left comments alongside their signature.

"This beautiful creature was never intended to be stuck in what must feel like a teacup after [experiencing] the endless oceans," writes Iris Gibbs of the UK.

"All the money they make, and they [can't even try to] make sure these beautiful animals are happy!" writes Judy Jacob of Arizona. "Give the orca a bigger tank!"

"Nothing wild should be kept confined. The least we can do...is to give them enough room to feel uncrowded and able to roam," writes Frank Anderton of Oklahoma. "Lolita's tank violates not only the idea of freedom, but the APHIS rules on acceptable tank size as well! Forty years of confinement is excessive. Orcas are sentient beings. Let her go!"

Although orcas are social creatures and remain with their mothers for their entire lives, Lolita has been kept alone in captivity for the last three decades. She was one of seven orcas captured in 1970 in Puget Sound, Washington.

The plight of captive orcas has been in the spotlight since the 2013 release of the documentary Blackfish, which inspired a class-action lawsuit against SeaWorld and caused park attendance to drop by four percent the following year.

Care2 (www.Care2.com) is a community of 28 million standing together for good. People are making world-changing impact with Care2, starting petitions and supporting each other's campaigns to help individuals, animals and the environment. A pioneer of online advocacy since 1998, Care2 is a B Corporation, or social enterprise, using the power of business as a force for good.