Florida’s Miami Seaquarium has relocated Li’i, a Pacific white-sided dolphin who shared a tank with Lolita the orca until she died last month, to SeaWorld San Antonio.
Li’i, a 40-year-old cetacean who lived at the Miami Seaquarium for 35 years, spent the past few years with Lolita. The orca died in August just as plans were progressing to release her to her home waters.
Li’i was “successfully moved” to SeaWorld San Antonio to “a habitat with other dolphins of his same species”, the Miami Seaquarium wrote on X on Monday (25 September).
“After the departure of Lolita, our animal care experts suggested his relocation to a habitat with other peers of his species and our efforts to look for his well-being took him to SeaWorld in San Antonio.”
“Although we will very much miss him, we feel happy to know this is the best for him,” the Miami Seaquarium added.
In response to Li’i’s relocation, PETA’s executive vice president Tracy Reiman said: “By violating its promise to send Li’i to a seaside sanctuary and condemning him to spend the rest of his life in yet another concrete cell, the Miami Seaquarium has failed this long-suffering dolphin, just as it failed Lolita.
“Li’i deserves the chance to return to his ocean home, to explore, dive, and finally feel some sense of freedom after nearly 35 years spent in a chlorinated concrete tank.
“PETA urges the Seaquarium to give him the peaceful oceanic retirement he is owed and send him to a seaside sanctuary.”
PETA responds to Li’i’s relocation
Following Li’i’s move, SeaWorld San Antonio wrote on Facebook: “He comes to us from the Miami Seaquarium where circumstances required his caregivers to find him a new home.”
SeaWorld San Antonio is “one of only two places in the United States to care for his species, and our veterinary team is experienced with caring for older animals like Li’i and can provide a custom care regimen that will be in his best interest”.
At SeaWorld, Li’i will join other Pacific white-sided dolphins. He will “receive world-class care based on accredited zoological standards for the remainder of his life”, the park added.
The Miami Seaquarium is owned by the Dolphin Company.
Image courtesy of the Dolphin Company
