Lolita Update #104
Monthly Protest Saturday, February 28
February 25, 2009

Dear Friends of Lolita~

When you come to the demo park in the FREE parking at the beach on the right hand side of the road before the Seaquarium, do NOT pay the Seaquarium to park. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 412-983-0994. Thanks and I hope to see you Saturday!

Shelby

saveouroceansnow@gmail.com

Protest for Lolita's retirement in front of the Miami Seaquarium:

4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 361-5705

Directions from North:

Take I-95 South, Exit 1A (Miami Seaquarium), and follow the signs to Key Biscayne and Rickenbacker Causeway.

Directions from South:

Take US1 North, exit to right just before the on-ramp to I-95, and follow the signs to Key Biscayne and Rickenbacker Causeway.

Once on the Causeway you have to pay a toll ($1.50, I believe) so bring quarters. When driving to the Seaquarium on the Causeway you will see beaches on the right hand side of the road and parking is free, you should park at the beach on the right hand side of the road RIGHT BEFORE THE SEAQUARIUM. If you pass it you will see the entrance to the Seaquarium, just make a U-turn and then pull into the beach parking lot.

-If you get there early or need help finding parking, I'll be there just call me 412-983-0994.

Email Shelby Proie - saveouroceansnow@gmail.com - for more information on the demonstration.

Just in case I suggest that you bring a ziplock plastic bag and a garbage bag. This is in case it rains, we learned at the last protest that it sucks if you don't have a waterproof place to keep your cell phones, cameras, etc. The garbage bag would be for if you don't want your signs to get ruined.

-I SUGGEST that when making signs you make them on FOAM BOARD you can find it with the poster board everywhere, it's nice because it does not bend or tear with the wind and/or water, it is a little more expensive though. Trust me you'll thank me when you're done holding up signs for an hour and a half.

WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF EXTRA SIGNS but they run out fast, SO IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN!

-Bring a water bottle and snacks it takes a lot out of you standing in the sun for an hour and a half, luckily the temperatures seem to be cooling down a bit so that will be nice : )

-Bring sunscreen and a hat if you don't want to get burnt, because you probably will if you don't.

-I also strongly suggest that you read the information about Lolita and her situation on www.orcanetwork.org (Lolita/captivity) if you haven't already. You have to be ready with correct information if the news reporters ask you something.

Let me know if you need any help!

-Please take as many pictures and videos of this as you can, and post them EVERYWHERE! WE need to get the word out.

I look forward to seeing all of you next Saturday, and want to thank you again for coming out and making a difference in such a beautiful animals life, I know that she'd thank you if she could! If you need anything or have any questions feel free to message or call me 412-983-0994.

LET'S GET LOLITA HOME WHERE SHE BELONGS!

Shelby, in collaboration with Orca Network, invites fellow Miami residents and media to come out and support Lolita's retirement. We hope to see Lolita transported to a bay pen in her native Pacific Northwest waters where she will be taken care of for the rest of her life unless she chooses to rejoin her pod that resides in the same waters most months of every year.

News about captive orcas:
January 3, 2009
23 year old female orca Sharkane passed away at Marineland Antibes, France. She had been fighting a bacterial infection since the end of September. Sharkane was captured off Iceland in October 1989 when she was about four years old. The other whales in this capture, Ran, Yamato/Tanouk and Ai died already between 1995 and 2004. Sharkane leaves behind three offspring, Shouka, Inouk and Wiki. 1993 born female Shouka was sent to Six Flags Ohio in May 2002 and transferred two years later to Six Flags California, where she remains without a killer whale companion. Young males Inouk (born in 1999) and Wiki (born in 2001) remain at Marineland Antibes, together with 27 year old Icelandic female Freya and her son Valentin (born in 1996).

Sharkane's death leaves only 42 captive orcas worldwide, 29 of them captive-born. In 1995 there were 55 orcas in captivity.

Much is going on to help bring Lolita home and to inform and advocate for her and her family Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to help Orca Network continue this work. Thank you!