![]() ![]() Over the years, we have continued to produce custom aquarium systems of the highest quality for residential, commercial, and public clients. Reef Aquaria Design grew out of that passion, and to this day, it is manifest in all of our work. Being involved in all aspects of the aquarium industry came naturally but love for creating beautiful large marine aquarium systems will always remain central. A passion for the new hobby of marine aquarium keeping passed from father to son, and in adulthood, Jeff has dedicated his life to the industry. Jeff Turner, RAD’S President, grew up under the guidance of his father, Joe Turner, the second president of the Florida Marine Aquarium Society in 1957. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2023.The history of RAD is, in part, a history of marine aquarium keeping itself. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called the agreement historic, saying, “many have hoped and prayed for this result for many, many years." He said his daughter told him “this place is too small for Lolita” and made him promise to help the orca if his company bought the park. He said his daughter became upset while watching Lolita's show, even as many others in the crowd were squealing in delight. The company operates some 27 other parks and habitats in Mexico, Argentina, the Caribbean and Italy.Īnimal rights activists including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have long fought for Lolita to spend her final years back home in a controlled setting.Īctivists often protest along the road that runs by the Seaquarium, which they've referred to as an “abusement park.” PETA says it doesn't want Lolita to suffer the same fate as her partner Hugo, who died in 1980 from a brain aneurysm after ramming his head repeatedly into the tank's walls.Īlbor said Thursday that as his company was in the process of acquiring the Seaquarium, he and his daughter visited as tourists. The Dolphin Company took ownership of the park in 2021 and last year announced it would no longer stage shows with Lolita, under an agreement with federal regulators. Lolita's caretakers at the Seaquarium are already preparing her for the journey, officials said. ![]() The orca will be under 24-hour care until she acclimates to her new surroundings. The plan is to transport Lolita by plane to Pacific waters off Washington state, where she will initially swim inside a large net while trainers and veterinarians teach her how to catch fish, Irsay said. “I know Lolita wants to get to free waters.” “I'm excited to be a part of Lolita's journey to freedom,” Irsay said. Overall the mission will cost US$15 million to US$20 million, they said. Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team, is partnering with Albor and Friends of Lolita to move the orca from her marine park tank, which measures 24 metres by 11 metres and is six metres deep. Pritam Singh, co-founder of Friends of Lolita, said it's a "sacred privilege" to bring Lolita home under the terms of the binding agreement. ![]() northwest.Įduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, said in the statement that finding a better future for Lolita was one of the reasons his company recently bought the aquarium. She was part of a pod of the endangered southern resident killer whales that roam waters off British Columbia and the U.S. Lolita is estimated to be 57 years old and has been in captivity in the Florida park since 1970, after being captured in the waters of Puget Sound in Washington state. The aquarium and the group Friends of Lolita said in a statement Thursday the orca could be relocated to an open ocean sanctuary in her home waters in the next 18 to 24 months, although project donor Jim Irsay said at a news conference in Miami that it could be six to nine months. MIAMI - An orca known as Lolita could be heading back to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest, ending more than 50 years of tank captivity, after a deal was struck between the Miami Seaquarium and advocates pushing for her release. ![]()
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