Lolita, a famous orca whale held in captivity for five decades, died shortly before plans to free her were set in motion.
The Miami Seaquarium announced on social media that the whale, renamed Toki, was experiencing signs of distress believed to be related to a renal condition.
At 56 years old, Lolita was one of the oldest orcas in captivity, residing at the Miami Seaquarium and serving as a main attraction.
Animal activists had campaigned for decades to free Lolita from captivity, arguing that she should be returned to her natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest.
Lolita's capture took place in 1970 when she was forcefully taken from a pod in the Puget Sound, resulting in the death of other whales during the process.
Despite challenges, including the loss of her mate Hugo and living in a small tank, Lolita persevered and became an inspiration for animal rights advocates.
Lolita's possible release was compared to Keiko, the killer whale from the movie "Free Willy," who was successfully returned to the wild after decades in captivity.
Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, was prepared to fund Lolita's transfer, estimating a cost of over $20 million.
Some commenters questioned the viability of Lolita's potential release due to her extended captivity, age, and lack of exposure to the wild ocean environment.