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When Hurricane Irma set Florida in its sight, Governor Rick Scott warned 5.6 million Floridians to evacuate. When the Category 3 storm slammed down on the sunshine state, people flocked to safety whether it be a shelter, basement, or a closet. The point is that these people had a choice in whether to wait out the storm or to evacuate – but not everyone had the same choice.

Drone footage shared by Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project shows the reality that whales and dolphins in captivity have to face day in and day out. They don’t have the option to flee to safety, find their own food when they are hungry, or find comfort with their own families during scary situations.


It’s sad to imagine what Lolita, the whale in the video, must have been thinking and feeling as the storm raged all around her. The loud noises, fierce winds, and heavy waves of rain, all going on – with no one in sight to reassure her that everything would be ok. While smaller animals were able to be relocated, because of Lolita’s size, she was left to endure the storm on her own.

This is only one of many reasons why these majestic animals shouldn’t be doomed to live in tanks. To find out what life is really like for cetaceans in captivity like Lolita click here.

To learn more about Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project click here.

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