In 1970, a pod of orcas in Puget Sound were brutally attacked in an attempt to capture them for the aquarium trade. Seven young whales were taken alive. Five of the orcas didn't survive the raid -- they were then sliced open, stuffed with rocks, and sunk with anchors so that the public could not witness what had occurred. This occurred 2 years before the Marine Mammal Protection Act passed, stopping such barbaric practices.

Today, Lolita is the only survivor of those taken from their home that day. Lolita has spent the last 45 years in an undersized tank at the Miami Seaquarium. There is now a strong movement to get Lolita moved to a more humane environment, but the owners of the Miami Seaquarium, Palace Entertainment, refuse to let her go.

My name is Bella, and even though I am only 13 years old, I want to do everything I can to help Lolita be transferred from her cell at the Miami Seaquarium to a sea pen in Puget Sound.

Plans have been made for her to be re-introduced to her native habitat by placing her into a sea pen in Puget Sound, where she can once again enjoy her native habitat. The plans include training to teach her how to hunt her own food. It may even be plausible that she reunites with her pod, which is known to frequent the waters.

But this requires the owners of the Miami Seaquarium to do the right thing.

I understand that Lolita can’t just be released into the wild and survive on her own at this point. The sea pen plan is a way to get her as close to the wild as possible. It’s far better than her life in captivity in the Miami Seaquarium. Orcas are highly social animals, and Lolita is maintained alone in her tank where she exhibits behaviors similar to humans who suffer for extended periods in isolation. Every life is worthy of dignity and we owe it to her to bring her home.

Please sign and pass this petition on to your networks, and let's see if we can make this happen together. We can make a difference, and I will do my part - but I need your help.