The American Cetacean Society, San Francisco Bay Chapter was honored to host an inspiring presentation by Howard Garrett, founder of Orca Network. Mr. Garrett spoke about his organization’s efforts to return Southern resident killer whale, Tokitae, to her native habitat. Tokitae (“Toki”) was captured from the L pod in 1970 at about age 4 and delivered to a Miami marine park. Toki has not only survived almost 52 years confined in the same tiny tank, she's miraculously maintained her courage and gentle nature to this day.
Now the economics and politics around her are changing rapidly, although much of the press coverage about her is missing both her astounding resilience and a series of dramatic developments. The Miami Seaquarium where she is held now has a new owner. The USDA has required that the whale stadium must remain closed, and a new nonprofit organization, Friends of Lolita, has been formed to help facilitate Toki's future. The new group was founded by a philanthropist and includes Lummi tribal elder Raynell Morris and cetologists Diana Reiss and Roger Payne. As of mid-April, nothing has been announced about moving Tokitae to a sea pen sanctuary, but the only option yet proposed is in the San Juan Islands, her native habitat. Join us to learn more about her current status and the next possible steps.
This webinar is offered for free to the public. A suggested donation of $10 per participant/viewer is encouraged and appreciated. Donations help cover webinar costs and support our education and cetacean research grant programs. Click here to donate.
ABOUT HOWARD GARRETT
After obtaining a degree in Sociology from The Colorado College, Howard Garrett began working as a field researcher with the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, Washington in 1981. In 1995 he began campaigning to return Lolita/Tokitae, a Southern resident orca captured in 1970, to her home waters in the Salish Sea. In 2001 he and his wife Susan Berta founded Orca Network, a non-profit organization based on Whidbey Island, dedicated to connecting people with whales in the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. Orca Network projects include: Whale Sighting Network; educational programs and events; advocacy; the Langley Whale Center; Marine Mammal Stranding Network; and the Campaign to Retire Tokitae to the Salish Sea.
Howard's interests are in the social systems and natural history of orcas and the emerging picture of diverse orca populations worldwide, with a focus on the Southern resident orcas of the Salish Sea and coastal waters. With their food base now dwindling below survival levels, Orca Network advocates for salmon habitat restoration.
