Tides Of Change #2: In The Wake Of Toki's Death, Albor Needs To Help Save Her Family

The Tides of Change series takes a deeper dive into the positive changes in benefit of marine life in captivity or the wild, and where we need to continue focusing our efforts to protect these species. Read the first installment here.

SIGN MY PETITION TO ASK EDUARDO ALBOR TO SAVE TOKI'S FAMILY: 
​www.change.org/ask-albor-to-save-the-southern-residents

It has been over a month since the passing of Tokitae/Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut left us heartbroken and in despair. Many of us, including myself, are still processing and reflecting on the significance of her loss. However, we must accept this without placing blame on ourselves and continue the fight in her legacy. Her family and kin - both wild and captive - still need us. We cannot give up.

Perhaps the most appalling - and revealing - thing that I have noticed in the wake of her death is the deafening silence concerning Toki's endangered family from Eduardo Albor, the Miami Seaquarium, SeaWorld and other large voices in the marine park industry.

​Let us not forget that the captures in the 70s - which brought Toki into captivity in the first place - are a large reason that the southern resident orca population is endangered. Now they are threatened by lack of food, for which the lower snake river dams are a primary culprit. It is the responsibility and the obligation of the marine park industry to do their due diligence in righting this wrong that they started. This is what we must fight for. This is Toki's legacy - and it is close to being snuffed out.

Albor and The Dolphin Company have an opportunity to make a difference and show that they truly care about Toki and all that she gave them despite being ripped away from her family at a young age. The remaining animals at the Miami Seaquarium live in squalid conditions and also need to be moved out. I am by no means encouraging that they stay there, but in the process of rebuilding the park or tearing it down and starting anew, Albor has the chance to do something with a lasting impact.

I propose that a display be made - available outside of the park, with no ticket required - so that everyone will be able to learn the stories of the animals who died at the park, including Toki and Hugo, and learn about Toki's endangered wild family and how to protect them. To date, the Miami Seaquarium has tried to cover up the deaths of all the animals who have died there. They deserve to be honored and remembered, after all the countless years that they have been exploited

Additionally, with his influence in owning marine parks, Albor is able to use his voice to work with SeaWorld and other companies to encourage the federal government to breach the dams. They could create a petition for park visitors to sign and pledge to do their part in helping these majestic animals survive.

SeaWorld also needs to do even more for the endangered Southern Resident orca population. While they have supported research and conservation efforts and provided grants to aid the population, they have not been vocal advocates of breaching the Snake River dams that dramatically impact their main food source - Chinook Salmon. With their corporate reach and the amount of visitors they receive each day, they could really sway the public voice by giving people easy steps to voice their concerns to representatives or create a petition for visitors to sign at the parks to breach the dams.

It would be empowering to educate park visitors about this time and show how we as a society have moved forward and now see the species differently - in part, because of the industry following these captures. This history would be incredibly informative and gives these parks a chance to admit their wrongs in the past and show how they want to change it for the better.

Albor and the marine park industry as a whole need to take responsibility and fully right the wrongs done to Toki and her family so that her legacy may live on and we can continue to appreciate and honor these beautiful animals. 

If you want to learn more about the southern residents, the threats they face, and how you can take action, please visit the following links and watch the video below:
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       - https://www.whaleresearch.com/encounters (latest updates on whale sightings and photos)
       - https://www.whaleresearch.com/orca-population
       - https://www.whaleresearch.com/orcassalmon
       - https://www.whaleresearch.com/action (take action to help the southern residents here)
       - https://www.epa.gov/salish-sea/chinook-salmon
       - http://orcanetwork.org