There are many factors that contributed to the death of Tokitae, an orca captured from Puget Sound waters and living and performing in Miami over the past 50 years. “Old” is the simplest way to put it.
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Shitai’s cause of death, according to the Miami Seaquarium, was “due to progression of multiple chronic conditions including kidney disease and pneumonia: acute and chronic bronchointerstitial pneumonia and renal degeneration, as well as chronic heart disease implying degeneration of the heart.” “. Heart valves. “
In other words, after a life spent in a water tank in Miami, a series of illnesses combined and Shi Tai died of old age in August. Tokitae died in August, when she was about 57, shortly before her planned return to her home waters of Puget Sound.
A team of veterinarians and pathologists performed the autopsy. The work was led by Dr. Judy St. Leger, co-author of “A Guide to Killer Whale Autopsies.”
In the official report on Tokitae’s autopsy, Dr. St. Leger wrote:
As animals age, degenerative conditions develop. The animal showed clinical progression of multiple degenerative changes, with cumulative effects leading to death. Chronic heart valve disease may lead to lung disease (indicated by the presence of “heart failure cells” in the lungs). Ongoing inflammation and immune responses lead to immune protein deposition (amyloidosis) and tubular degeneration and mineralization (a typical change of aging) leading to kidney disease. Kidney disease may cause gastritis and pituitary mineralization. Other findings may be important, but clinical impact has not yet been determined.
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Tokitae was born to L Pod, a southern killer whale that travels the Salish Sea. She was approximately 6 years old when she was captured in Penn’s Cove on Whidbey Island in 1970. Since then, she has lived at the Miami Aquarium, performing under the name “Lolita.” “
Shitai’s remains (ashes) were returned to Rumi Country last month. The tribe led efforts to return the orca to Puget Sound, but she died in August before those plans could be implemented. Lumi leaders subsequently demanded the return of her body.
Death comes suddenly. It was reported that Shi Tai was in good health before his death.