Tokitae remembered in vigil on Whidbey Island
As waves crashed ashore along Whidbey Island, a sense of anxiety filled the air as roughly 100 people gathered for a vigil.
As waves crashed ashore along Whidbey Island, a sense of anxiety filled the air as roughly 100 people gathered for a vigil.
Tokitae aka Lolita dies before she was set to be transported back to Puget Sound
Tokitae, or known by her performance name Lolita, has died in the Miami Seaquarium just months ahead of her possible transport back to her home Puget Sound waters. She was the oldest orca in captivity captured in the wild.
Tokitae, or known by her performance name Lolita, has died in the Miami Seaquarium just months ahead of her possible transport back to her home Puget Sound waters. She was the oldest orca in captivity captured in the wild.
State official doesn't believe Tokitae will be back home in Puget Sound this year
The push to return Tokitae, a captive orca, to the Pacific Northwest is gaining momentum – but roadblocks loom. The man bankrolling her transport teased a date of as early as Thanksgiving, but state officials don't see that happening until 2024 or 2025.
The push to return Tokitae, a captive orca, to the Pacific Northwest is gaining momentum – but roadblocks loom. The man bankrolling her transport teased a date of as early as Thanksgiving, but state officials don't see that happening until 2024 or 2025.
Southern Resident Killer Whale research shows unique bond between mothers, sons
Researchers have found that female orcas protect their sons -- but not their daughters -- in their later years. What the findings tell scientists studying the endangered Southern Resident orcas.
Researchers have found that female orcas protect their sons -- but not their daughters -- in their later years. What the findings tell scientists studying the endangered Southern Resident orcas.
Tokitae could return home to Puget Sound by Thanksgiving
Indianapolis Colts owner and philanthropist Jim Irsay is personally funding efforts to bring Tokitae back home to the Puget Sound, and said she could be back in her ancestral waters by Thanksgiving.
Indianapolis Colts owner and philanthropist Jim Irsay is personally funding efforts to bring Tokitae back home to the Puget Sound, and said she could be back in her ancestral waters by Thanksgiving.
Activist facing lawsuit over social media videos showcasing Tokitae
An animal activist is facing a lawsuit after drone videos were posted along with descriptions of concerns about the condition of Tokitae, an orca originally captured in the Pacific Northwest before living more than 50 years in captivity.
An animal activist is facing a lawsuit after drone videos were posted along with descriptions of concerns about the condition of Tokitae, an orca originally captured in the Pacific Northwest before living more than 50 years in captivity.
Not one, but two orca calves return with endangered Southern Residents
A second baby orca has been spotted with L pod, a significant discovery as the endangered Southern Resident killer whales have struggled with new births for several years.
A second baby orca has been spotted with L pod, a significant discovery as the endangered Southern Resident killer whales have struggled with new births for several years.
Video: playful orcas spotted off California coast
A group of orcas were seen playing near the surface for hours off the coast of California, according to a whale-watching group.
A group of orcas were seen playing near the surface for hours off the coast of California, according to a whale-watching group.
Baby orca spotted with L Pod for the first time in two years
The endangered Southern Resident orcas are returning to the Salish Sea with a new baby in tow this summer.
The endangered Southern Resident orcas are returning to the Salish Sea with a new baby in tow this summer.
Work to remove final fish farming net pens underway in Washington waters
Work is beginning to remove the final net pens left in local waters. Still, the fight surrounding the decades-long debate over commercial net pen use in Puget Sound continues.
Work is beginning to remove the final net pens left in local waters. Still, the fight surrounding the decades-long debate over commercial net pen use in Puget Sound continues.
New law requires WA boaters to keep 1,000 yards from southern resident killer whales
A new bill signed into law Monday requires Washington boaters to keep at least 1,000 yards away from southern resident killer whales.
A new bill signed into law Monday requires Washington boaters to keep at least 1,000 yards away from southern resident killer whales.
'Win' for Southern Resident killer whales a 'major blow' to fishing industry
This week, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones made a ruling that would likely shut down the upcoming trolling season for Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska.
This week, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones made a ruling that would likely shut down the upcoming trolling season for Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska.
Hood Canal Bridge 'fix' for fish kills now being tested
The Hood Canal Bridge may as well be a dead-end for juvenile salmon, but scientists are testing a fix that could buy them time and save thousands of fish.
The Hood Canal Bridge may as well be a dead-end for juvenile salmon, but scientists are testing a fix that could buy them time and save thousands of fish.
Confusion rises over plans to bring Tokitae back to Puget Sound
Over the weekend, plans to return an orca to the Pacific Northwest got a bit more confusing—with the benefactor footing the bill announcing details of a plan, while the CEO of the aquarium in charge responded online calling the statements a “misunderstanding.”
Over the weekend, plans to return an orca to the Pacific Northwest got a bit more confusing—with the benefactor footing the bill announcing details of a plan, while the CEO of the aquarium in charge responded online calling the statements a “misunderstanding.”
Famous orca known as 'Chainsaw' spotted in Salish Sea
A well-known orca referred to as 'Chainsaw' was spotted in the Salish Sea.
A well-known orca referred to as 'Chainsaw' was spotted in the Salish Sea.
Bringing Tokitae home: How to release a long-captive orca?
For some, it's called to mind the release of Keiko, the star of the movie “Free Willy," more than two decades ago. Keiko’s return to his native Iceland vastly improved upon his life in a Mexico City tank, but he failed to adapt to the wild and died five years later.
For some, it's called to mind the release of Keiko, the star of the movie “Free Willy," more than two decades ago. Keiko’s return to his native Iceland vastly improved upon his life in a Mexico City tank, but he failed to adapt to the wild and died five years later.
It’s official: Agreement in place to bring Tokitae home from Miami Seaquarium to Puget Sound
It’s official: An agreement is in place to bring Tokitae, a Southern Resident killer whale also known as Lolita, home to the Pacific Northwest after she was forcefully removed from a cove near Whidbey Island more than 50 years ago.
It’s official: An agreement is in place to bring Tokitae, a Southern Resident killer whale also known as Lolita, home to the Pacific Northwest after she was forcefully removed from a cove near Whidbey Island more than 50 years ago.
It?s official: Agreement in place to bring Tokitae home from Miami Seaquarium to Puget Sound
It?s official: An agreement is in place to bring Tokitae, a Southern Resident killer whale also known as Lolita, home to the Pacific Northwest after she was forcefully removed from a cove near Whidbey Island more than 50 years ago.
It?s official: An agreement is in place to bring Tokitae, a Southern Resident killer whale also known as Lolita, home to the Pacific Northwest after she was forcefully removed from a cove near Whidbey Island more than 50 years ago.
Announcement possible for orca Tokitae/Lolita's return to Puget Sound from captivity
The unthinkable may be possible: there are now talks about Tokitae, an orca ripped from her family and flown to the other side of the country, coming home to Puget Sound.
The unthinkable may be possible: there are now talks about Tokitae, an orca ripped from her family and flown to the other side of the country, coming home to Puget Sound.
Inbreeding within Southern Resident killer whale adds to extinction threat
A new report, just published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, finds that inbreeding within the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale population is straining the population.
A new report, just published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, finds that inbreeding within the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale population is straining the population.