Since our press conference held in Miami in March of this year, when we announced a binding agreement between Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Lolita to return her to the ocean, many things have happened, and great milestones have been achieved. Five months have passed, and there is a lot of good news to communicate with the thousands of people who share our dream.
Because Lolita is not in an area accessible to the public, we want to provide more frequent updates to those around the world interested in her well-being. Starting this week, we will have regular reports of Lolita, including her activities, food, health, and the amazing work of her Vets, Trainers, and all staff from Miami Seaquarium involved in her life. We are all brought together with two goals, providing her with the best care and welfare and the possibility of bringing her to a controlled ocean habitat where she will comfortably live for the rest of her life, always under the care of professionals as she would not survive the demanding life in the wilderness after more than 50 years in human care.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL CONDITION
Our beloved Lolita is very stable and as good as she can be. Proof of her good health is her good appetite. Last week Lolita ate an average of 115 pounds of first-class gourmet fish, including salmon (60%), herring (35%), and squid (5%), mainly brought from the USA and Canada. 50 liters of gelatin and 10 liters of ice cubes supplement her daily consumption to keep her hydrated. The veterinary team comprises six veterinarians, Dr. Tom Reiderson and Dr. Jess Comolli. They have brought together an amazing medical preventive program to keep Lolita in optimum health conditions to soon begin training the necessary behaviors for her trip to the ocean. As part of the medical preventive program, samples are collected frequently to assess her health. Chuff samples are collected daily to evaluate diverse markers. She is overall in stable health.
LIFE, ENRICHMENT, AND TRAINING BEHAVIOUR
Lolita’s care team currently includes eight professionals with decades of experience with marine mammals. Mike Partica and Andrew Scullion, Director of Animal Training for Miami Seaquarium, work daily to provide Lolitas with the best quality of life while residing in Miami, including optimum mental and physical health. Enrichment is a very important part of Lolita’s every day. This makes her feel loved and always cared for. This week she received up to 9 enrichment sessions each day. She loves receiving attention from her trainers, and the playful interaction provides physical and mental benefits. Her training sessions also focused on her medical care as well as line-ups for potential assessments and stretcher training to prepare her for transport.
*All images taken by Miami Seaquarium staff and are exclusively for their own use, not to be copied or reproduced by a third party without written authorization of Miami Seaquarium.