Caretakers have begun to remove the body of Tokitae - also known as the ‘world’s loneliest orca’ - after she died last week.
Prior to her passing, the whale had spent over 50 years in captivity at Miami Seaquarium and had previously performed tricks for tourists.
Heartbreakingly, local news crews captured the moment she was removed from her tank after dying last Friday.
It’s thought that Tokitae - or Toki - had died from an underlying health condition, with the 57-year-old whale reportedly showing signs of discomfort during her final day.
Though medical teams tried to intervene, the orca, who was also known as Lolita, passed away last week after 53 years in captivity.
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During that time, Tokitae had performed for tourists at the Seaquarium in Virginia Keys but had ‘retired’ last year as her health worsened.
Kept away from the public’s eyes, the ageing orca was confined to a separate pen where she led her final days in solitude.
It was there that she passed away, with the aquarium’s team later hoisting her body from the tank so that it could be disposed of.
News crews from WPLG were also on hand to capture the heartbreaking moment, with Tokitae making her final journey alone – as she had been in life.
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Tragically, the whale’s story had captured the attention of animal rights groups who had planned to move her to a natural sea pen.
Concerned for the whale’s welfare, the activists had called for her return to her native waters in the Pacific Northwest.
Back in 2018, the indigenous Lummi Nation even visited the Miami attraction to call for the release of Tokitae into the wild.
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However, some experts argue that Tokiate was too old and had spent too long in captivity to be safely released.
In 2023, however, an agreement was reached between the Seaquarium and activism groups to relocate the whale to an ocean sanctuary.
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The ambitious plan would see the orca moved via air and sea, via a customer stretcher to her new home.
Expected to take up 18-24 months, the $20 million (£15.7m) scheme was funded by philanthropist Jim Irsay with experts on hand to also aid the ambitious relocation.
However, Tokiate would never return to her native waters, with the whale suddenly passing away on August 18 after a short illness.
The Seaquarium then announced the sad news via Twitter and even shared a short clip of the orca over the years, with the animal seen leaping out of the waters.
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The caption read: “You will always be in our hearts. Thank you for inspiring us every day.”
Katherine Sidnell