14 DAY TRIAL // The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States is in a bit of a hassle these days.
Long story short, it is having trouble deciding whether or not an orca living in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida should be granted protection under the Endangered Species Act. Sea Shepherd thinks that Lolita, as this marine mammal is named, not only deserves being protected under the Endangered Species Act, but that the move might actually turn its life around.
On its website, the organization details that Lolita has been living in captivity for over 40 years now. The marine mammal is said to have been removed from the wild back in August 1970.
At that time, the orca was cornered, separated from its family, and captured. According to Sea Shepherd, the incident occurred in the waters of the Puget Sound.
Footage of this clash between wildlife and humans is included in the documentary film “Blackfish.”
Due to the fact that Lolita was captured from the Southern Resident orca population, it has been proposed that the marine mammal be granted protection under the Endangered Species Act.
However, before the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration makes a decision, people are invited to also share their thoughts on the matter at hand. The deadline for the public comments period is March 28, 2014, at 11.59 p.m. ET.
Sea Shepherd expects that, if more people send messages to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the organization will eventually rule in Lolita's favor.
“Hurry! There are only 4 days left to send your comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging them to provide the captive orca, Lolita, with Endangered Species Act protection!” the conservationists wrote in a press release issued this past March 24.
“Please keep comments polite, and comments including scientific information, research or facts are always best,” Sea Shepherd stressed in the same press release.
Should Lolita one day benefit from legal protection under the Endangered Species Act, there is little doubt that folks at Miami Seaquarium will have to start taking better care of it. Besides, the marine mammal might even be sent to a sanctuary or allowed to return to the wild.
“While ESA protection would not guarantee Lolita’s release from the Miami Seaquarium to a sea pen sanctuary or the wild, it is a possibility. Protection under the ESA would demand, at the very least, that the conditions under which Lolita is kept be significantly improved,” Sea Shepherd explains.
Those who feel like helping Lolita need only head over to regulations.gov to learn about where they can submit their comments on this issue.