Hollywood producer has assembled cast to lobby for Lolita

	Lolita, seen inside her 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium, is the focus of a freedom campaign.
Orca Network

By Sarah van Schagen

updated 3:25 p.m. CT, Mon., April. 14, 2008

Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy’s current project involves an impressive cast ranging from Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, and Harrison Ford to Elton John, 50 Cent, and Plácido Domingo. He’s attracted high-powered producers including Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard. It’s a veritable A-list role call, and he’s still recruiting.

But the brightest star in Julia-Levy’s lineup — and no doubt the biggest, at 7,000 pounds — is Lolita, a 40-year-old killer whale living in a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium.

Taken from her family while still a juvenile, Lolita has been performing for sunburnt tourists twice a day over the last 37 years. The tank she lives in is just four times her size at its widest; she’d have to circle it more than 600 times to travel the same distance her still-wild family members might in an average day. Her only companion — another killer whale from her pod, or family group — died 20-some years ago after repeatedly bashing his own head against the enclosure walls. In her native Pacific Northwest waters, whales like Lolita have lifespans similar to humans; in a tank, that life expectancy is cut in half.

“The conditions that she lives in are barbaric,” Julia-Levy shouts to me over the phone, unable to contain his anger. He decided to get involved in the campaign to free Lolita last year, when he learned that it was in need of star power. But as spokesperson for the glittery troops he’s amassed, Julia-Levy — the son of actor Raul Julia — emphasizes that he and the other Lolita-loving producers and celebrities are involved as regular citizens, not activists.

“We are people who have consciences,” he says, “and everyone in this campaign from Hollywood has a mind of their own, and we believe that what we’re doing is the right thing simply because animals should live in their normal habitat.”

Their fight is not a new one. In fact, activists have been trying for years to convince the Seaquarium to retire Lolita — at times, offering up to $1 million for her release. She made national television in 1995 when played a recording of her pod’s vocalizations and viewers watched the whale cozy up to the speaker and listen. In 2003, a documentary about Lolita, Slave to Entertainment, hit film festivals across the country, garnering more attention for the cause. But only in the last few months has the campaign begun to gain momentum again, making news as more and more big names join up.

Julia-Levy’s passion for this campaign was evident just a few moments into our conversation — and his fervor shows no signs of waning. When asked what’s next, he hinted at a plan “involving a ‘big stick,’” but said he couldn’t elaborate just yet. No doubt when he does, he’ll have plenty of star power behind him.

How did you first hear about Lolita and get involved in the campaign?
I knew about Lolita for a long time, but it was probably about a year ago when I really got involved with the campaign. I was actually a little depressed because my little dog had just died — he was 9 years old. It was a very tough time for me, and I was looking at pictures of my dog on the internet and then I came across … [a video] of Lolita and the conditions of where she lives. And I got even more depressed.

Then I did a little bit of research on the situation and I contacted the Keiko Foundation, which is [under the umbrella of] the Earth Island Institute. They’re the ones that have the vast experience relocating animals to their natural habitat — like Keiko [the star of Free Willy] and Springer.

Who all is on board so far?
The latest one to join the campaign is Elton John. We have some of the most powerful producers on board: Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert, Richard Donner (who was behind the Keiko campaign and was extremely instrumental in the release of Keiko), David Permut, Steve Longi. We have a wide range of celebrities, too, including Johnny Depp, 50 Cent, [Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Plácido Domingo, Janet Jackson, Ringo Starr], Harrison Ford … the list is pretty extensive.

We really just want to send the right message. We want people to educate themselves and to learn and know that it is not possible for an animal of that magnitude, that large, that in her normal habitat is used to traveling long distances — at least 80 to 150 miles a day — to be confined in a small, little tank, day after day, night after night for the past 30-something years. That’s not normal. That animal needs to go back to her normal habitat.

What does it say about our culture that it wasn’t until these famous faces got attached to the campaign that people started to pay attention?
Unfortunately, in our society nobody listens to your next-door neighbor when he raises his voice. … When celebrities speak loud and stand up, it seems like everybody listens, it seems like everybody takes it more seriously, and I don’t understand why normal people do not do the same thing … This is work that we all have to do as citizens. We all have to raise our voices when something is not right. Why do we have to wait for celebrities to raise their voices first?
Is it the responsibility of celebrities then — because they are influencing the public this way — to research these organizations and get involved?

I think it’s everybody’s issue … every citizen in this country has the same responsibility as any celebrity in Hollywood. Everybody should be responsible for taking care of our environment, our water, our animals. This responsibility belongs to everyone.

The bed we’re gonna be sleeping in tomorrow, we’re making it today.

What do you say to the argument that Lolita shouldn’t be moved?
Those who oppose this are extremely arrogant. Who are they to say that animals cannot be relocated? If you put a person in a cage for 30 years and you ask him to choose — “Do you want to get out of that cage or do you want to stay there?” — what do you think he’s going to say? He’s gonna say he wants to get out of that cage. Unfortunately, animals cannot speak. That’s why we need to speak for those animals who cannot speak for themselves.
For those who say, “Oh, the animal is happy here because we love him,” it’s completely erroneous. Animals need to be loved by humans — but in their normal habitat. Meaning: Respected. We need to respect their habitat; we need to respect their privacy; and we need to respect their freedom.

I don’t want to love animals in captivity; I want to let them go. And this animal surely deserves to go back to her family, to her normal habitat. This animal has paid the highest price of her life: Being confined to a cage for 37 years. I can tell you 100 percent that animal cannot wait for the day to come that she’s going to be free.

Speaking of raising voices — tell me about the benefit concert. Is that still in the works?
It’s part of our plans to put on a benefit concert — absolutely. We want to do it in Miami, a couple of blocks from the Seaquarium. We’re planning a series of events.
But right now, our team is in the process of negotiations with the Seaquarium. We will try every single diplomatic road to resolve this situation properly for both parties. This has to be a winning situation for both parties.

I think [Seaquarium owner Arthur] Hertz should really think about this because he’s got a whale that’s not going to live more than five years in that tank. And he can come out of this one looking like a hero. It’s up to him. But like I said, our team is putting together a diplomatic plan to negotiate the situation, make both parties win, and do the right thing.

So that’s the first step … and if that doesn’t work?
Then the campaign goes to a whole new level …

Sarah van Schagen is Grist’s assistant editor.

© 2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hollywood producer has assembled cast to lobby for Lolita

	Lolita, seen inside her 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium, is the focus of a freedom campaign.  View related photos
Orca Network

By Sarah van Schagen

updated 3:25 p.m. CT, Mon., April. 14, 2008

Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy’s current project involves an impressive cast ranging from Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, and Harrison Ford to Elton John, 50 Cent, and Plácido Domingo. He’s attracted high-powered producers including Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard. It’s a veritable A-list role call, and he’s still recruiting.

But the brightest star in Julia-Levy’s lineup — and no doubt the biggest, at 7,000 pounds — is Lolita, a 40-year-old killer whale living in a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium.

Taken from her family while still a juvenile, Lolita has been performing for sunburnt tourists twice a day over the last 37 years. The tank she lives in is just four times her size at its widest; she’d have to circle it more than 600 times to travel the same distance her still-wild family members might in an average day. Her only companion — another killer whale from her pod, or family group — died 20-some years ago after repeatedly bashing his own head against the enclosure walls. In her native Pacific Northwest waters, whales like Lolita have lifespans similar to humans; in a tank, that life expectancy is cut in half.

Story continues below ↓

“The conditions that she lives in are barbaric,” Julia-Levy shouts to me over the phone, unable to contain his anger. He decided to get involved in the campaign to free Lolita last year, when he learned that it was in need of star power. But as spokesperson for the glittery troops he’s amassed, Julia-Levy — the son of actor Raul Julia — emphasizes that he and the other Lolita-loving producers and celebrities are involved as regular citizens, not activists.

“We are people who have consciences,” he says, “and everyone in this campaign from Hollywood has a mind of their own, and we believe that what we’re doing is the right thing simply because animals should live in their normal habitat.”

Their fight is not a new one. In fact, activists have been trying for years to convince the Seaquarium to retire Lolita — at times, offering up to $1 million for her release. She made national television in 1995 when played a recording of her pod’s vocalizations and viewers watched the whale cozy up to the speaker and listen. In 2003, a documentary about Lolita, Slave to Entertainment, hit film festivals across the country, garnering more attention for the cause. But only in the last few months has the campaign begun to gain momentum again, making news as more and more big names join up.

Julia-Levy’s passion for this campaign was evident just a few moments into our conversation — and his fervor shows no signs of waning. When asked what’s next, he hinted at a plan “involving a ‘big stick,’” but said he couldn’t elaborate just yet. No doubt when he does, he’ll have plenty of star power behind him.

How did you first hear about Lolita and get involved in the campaign?
I knew about Lolita for a long time, but it was probably about a year ago when I really got involved with the campaign. I was actually a little depressed because my little dog had just died — he was 9 years old. It was a very tough time for me, and I was looking at pictures of my dog on the internet and then I came across … [a video] of Lolita and the conditions of where she lives. And I got even more depressed.

Then I did a little bit of research on the situation and I contacted the Keiko Foundation, which is [under the umbrella of] the Earth Island Institute. They’re the ones that have the vast experience relocating animals to their natural habitat — like Keiko [the star of Free Willy] and Springer.

Who all is on board so far?
The latest one to join the campaign is Elton John. We have some of the most powerful producers on board: Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert, Richard Donner (who was behind the Keiko campaign and was extremely instrumental in the release of Keiko), David Permut, Steve Longi. We have a wide range of celebrities, too, including Johnny Depp, 50 Cent, [Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Plácido Domingo, Janet Jackson, Ringo Starr], Harrison Ford … the list is pretty extensive.

We really just want to send the right message. We want people to educate themselves and to learn and know that it is not possible for an animal of that magnitude, that large, that in her normal habitat is used to traveling long distances — at least 80 to 150 miles a day — to be confined in a small, little tank, day after day, night after night for the past 30-something years. That’s not normal. That animal needs to go back to her normal habitat.

What does it say about our culture that it wasn’t until these famous faces got attached to the campaign that people started to pay attention?
Unfortunately, in our society nobody listens to your next-door neighbor when he raises his voice. … When celebrities speak loud and stand up, it seems like everybody listens, it seems like everybody takes it more seriously, and I don’t understand why normal people do not do the same thing … This is work that we all have to do as citizens. We all have to raise our voices when something is not right. Why do we have to wait for celebrities to raise their voices first?
Is it the responsibility of celebrities then — because they are influencing the public this way — to research these organizations and get involved?

I think it’s everybody’s issue … every citizen in this country has the same responsibility as any celebrity in Hollywood. Everybody should be responsible for taking care of our environment, our water, our animals. This responsibility belongs to everyone.

The bed we’re gonna be sleeping in tomorrow, we’re making it today.

What do you say to the argument that Lolita shouldn’t be moved?
Those who oppose this are extremely arrogant. Who are they to say that animals cannot be relocated? If you put a person in a cage for 30 years and you ask him to choose — “Do you want to get out of that cage or do you want to stay there?” — what do you think he’s going to say? He’s gonna say he wants to get out of that cage. Unfortunately, animals cannot speak. That’s why we need to speak for those animals who cannot speak for themselves.
For those who say, “Oh, the animal is happy here because we love him,” it’s completely erroneous. Animals need to be loved by humans — but in their normal habitat. Meaning: Respected. We need to respect their habitat; we need to respect their privacy; and we need to respect their freedom.

I don’t want to love animals in captivity; I want to let them go. And this animal surely deserves to go back to her family, to her normal habitat. This animal has paid the highest price of her life: Being confined to a cage for 37 years. I can tell you 100 percent that animal cannot wait for the day to come that she’s going to be free.

Speaking of raising voices — tell me about the benefit concert. Is that still in the works?
It’s part of our plans to put on a benefit concert — absolutely. We want to do it in Miami, a couple of blocks from the Seaquarium. We’re planning a series of events.
But right now, our team is in the process of negotiations with the Seaquarium. We will try every single diplomatic road to resolve this situation properly for both parties. This has to be a winning situation for both parties.

I think [Seaquarium owner Arthur] Hertz should really think about this because he’s got a whale that’s not going to live more than five years in that tank. And he can come out of this one looking like a hero. It’s up to him. But like I said, our team is putting together a diplomatic plan to negotiate the situation, make both parties win, and do the right thing.

So that’s the first step … and if that doesn’t work?
Then the campaign goes to a whole new level …

Hollywood producer has assembled cast to lobby for Lolita

	Lolita, seen inside her 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium, is the focus of a freedom campaign.  View related photos
Orca Network

Grist.org

By Sarah van Schagen

updated 3:25 p.m. CT, Mon., April. 14, 2008

Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy’s current project involves an impressive cast ranging from Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, and Harrison Ford to Elton John, 50 Cent, and Plácido Domingo. He’s attracted high-powered producers including Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard. It’s a veritable A-list role call, and he’s still recruiting.

But the brightest star in Julia-Levy’s lineup — and no doubt the biggest, at 7,000 pounds — is Lolita, a 40-year-old killer whale living in a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium.

Taken from her family while still a juvenile, Lolita has been performing for sunburnt tourists twice a day over the last 37 years. The tank she lives in is just four times her size at its widest; she’d have to circle it more than 600 times to travel the same distance her still-wild family members might in an average day. Her only companion — another killer whale from her pod, or family group — died 20-some years ago after repeatedly bashing his own head against the enclosure walls. In her native Pacific Northwest waters, whales like Lolita have lifespans similar to humans; in a tank, that life expectancy is cut in half.

Story continues below ↓

“The conditions that she lives in are barbaric,” Julia-Levy shouts to me over the phone, unable to contain his anger. He decided to get involved in the campaign to free Lolita last year, when he learned that it was in need of star power. But as spokesperson for the glittery troops he’s amassed, Julia-Levy — the son of actor Raul Julia — emphasizes that he and the other Lolita-loving producers and celebrities are involved as regular citizens, not activists.

“We are people who have consciences,” he says, “and everyone in this campaign from Hollywood has a mind of their own, and we believe that what we’re doing is the right thing simply because animals should live in their normal habitat.”

Their fight is not a new one. In fact, activists have been trying for years to convince the Seaquarium to retire Lolita — at times, offering up to $1 million for her release. She made national television in 1995 when played a recording of her pod’s vocalizations and viewers watched the whale cozy up to the speaker and listen. In 2003, a documentary about Lolita, Slave to Entertainment, hit film festivals across the country, garnering more attention for the cause. But only in the last few months has the campaign begun to gain momentum again, making news as more and more big names join up.

Julia-Levy’s passion for this campaign was evident just a few moments into our conversation — and his fervor shows no signs of waning. When asked what’s next, he hinted at a plan “involving a ‘big stick,’” but said he couldn’t elaborate just yet. No doubt when he does, he’ll have plenty of star power behind him.

How did you first hear about Lolita and get involved in the campaign?
I knew about Lolita for a long time, but it was probably about a year ago when I really got involved with the campaign. I was actually a little depressed because my little dog had just died — he was 9 years old. It was a very tough time for me, and I was looking at pictures of my dog on the internet and then I came across … [a video] of Lolita and the conditions of where she lives. And I got even more depressed.

Then I did a little bit of research on the situation and I contacted the Keiko Foundation, which is [under the umbrella of] the Earth Island Institute. They’re the ones that have the vast experience relocating animals to their natural habitat — like Keiko [the star of Free Willy] and Springer.

Who all is on board so far?
The latest one to join the campaign is Elton John. We have some of the most powerful producers on board: Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert, Richard Donner (who was behind the Keiko campaign and was extremely instrumental in the release of Keiko), David Permut, Steve Longi. We have a wide range of celebrities, too, including Johnny Depp, 50 Cent, [Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Plácido Domingo, Janet Jackson, Ringo Starr], Harrison Ford … the list is pretty extensive.

We really just want to send the right message. We want people to educate themselves and to learn and know that it is not possible for an animal of that magnitude, that large, that in her normal habitat is used to traveling long distances — at least 80 to 150 miles a day — to be confined in a small, little tank, day after day, night after night for the past 30-something years. That’s not normal. That animal needs to go back to her normal habitat.

What does it say about our culture that it wasn’t until these famous faces got attached to the campaign that people started to pay attention?
Unfortunately, in our society nobody listens to your next-door neighbor when he raises his voice. … When celebrities speak loud and stand up, it seems like everybody listens, it seems like everybody takes it more seriously, and I don’t understand why normal people do not do the same thing … This is work that we all have to do as citizens. We all have to raise our voices when something is not right. Why do we have to wait for celebrities to raise their voices first?
Is it the responsibility of celebrities then — because they are influencing the public this way — to research these organizations and get involved?

I think it’s everybody’s issue … every citizen in this country has the same responsibility as any celebrity in Hollywood. Everybody should be responsible for taking care of our environment, our water, our animals. This responsibility belongs to everyone.

The bed we’re gonna be sleeping in tomorrow, we’re making it today.

What do you say to the argument that Lolita shouldn’t be moved?
Those who oppose this are extremely arrogant. Who are they to say that animals cannot be relocated? If you put a person in a cage for 30 years and you ask him to choose — “Do you want to get out of that cage or do you want to stay there?” — what do you think he’s going to say? He’s gonna say he wants to get out of that cage. Unfortunately, animals cannot speak. That’s why we need to speak for those animals who cannot speak for themselves.
For those who say, “Oh, the animal is happy here because we love him,” it’s completely erroneous. Animals need to be loved by humans — but in their normal habitat. Meaning: Respected. We need to respect their habitat; we need to respect their privacy; and we need to respect their freedom.

I don’t want to love animals in captivity; I want to let them go. And this animal surely deserves to go back to her family, to her normal habitat. This animal has paid the highest price of her life: Being confined to a cage for 37 years. I can tell you 100 percent that animal cannot wait for the day to come that she’s going to be free.

Speaking of raising voices — tell me about the benefit concert. Is that still in the works?
It’s part of our plans to put on a benefit concert — absolutely. We want to do it in Miami, a couple of blocks from the Seaquarium. We’re planning a series of events.
But right now, our team is in the process of negotiations with the Seaquarium. We will try every single diplomatic road to resolve this situation properly for both parties. This has to be a winning situation for both parties.

I think [Seaquarium owner Arthur] Hertz should really think about this because he’s got a whale that’s not going to live more than five years in that tank. And he can come out of this one looking like a hero. It’s up to him. But like I said, our team is putting together a diplomatic plan to negotiate the situation, make both parties win, and do the right thing.

So that’s the first step … and if that doesn’t work?
Then the campaign goes to a whole new level …

Raul Julia Levy Elton John, Lindsay Lohan, and 50 Cent unite to free a killer whale — meet the man who brought them together

Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy’s current project involves an impressive cast ranging from Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, and Harrison Ford to Elton John, 50 Cent, and Plácido Domingo. He’s attracted high-powered producers including Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard. It’s a veritable A-list role call, and he’s still recruiting.

But the brightest star in Julia-Levy’s lineup — and no doubt the biggest, at 7,000 pounds — is Lolita, a 40-year-old killer whale living in a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium.

Elton John, Lindsay Lohan, and 50 Cent unite to free a killer whale — meet the man who brought them together

By Sarah van Schagen

04 Apr 2008

Celebs are flipping out over Lolita’s living conditions.

Photo: Krosstok

Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy’s current project involves an impressive cast ranging from Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan, and Harrison Ford to Elton John, 50 Cent, and Plácido Domingo. He’s attracted high-powered producers including Cameron Crowe, Ed Elbert, and Ron Howard. It’s a veritable A-list role call, and he’s still recruiting.

But the brightest star in Julia-Levy’s lineup — and no doubt the biggest, at 7,000 pounds — is Lolita, a 40-year-old killer whale living in a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium.

Taken from her family while still a juvenile, Lolita has been performing for sunburnt tourists twice a day over the last 37 years. The tank she lives in is just four times her size at its widest; she’d have to circle it more than 600 times to travel the same distance her still-wild family members might in an average day. Her only companion — another killer whale from her pod, or family group — died 20-some years ago after repeatedly bashing his own head against the enclosure walls. In her native Pacific Northwest waters, whales like Lolita have lifespans similar to humans; in a tank, that life expectancy is cut in half.

Raul Julia-Levy

Courtesy Raul Julia-Levy

“The conditions that she lives in are barbaric,” Julia-Levy shouts to me over the phone, unable to contain his anger. He decided to get involved in the campaign to free Lolita last year, when he learned that it was in need of star power. But as spokesperson for the glittery troops he’s amassed, Julia-Levy — the son of Addams Family actor Raul Julia — emphasizes that he and the other Lolita-loving producers and celebrities are involved as regular citizens, not activists.

“We are people who have consciences,” he says, “and everyone in this campaign from Hollywood has a mind of their own, and we believe that what we’re doing is the right thing simply because animals should live in their normal habitat.”

Their fight is not a new one. In fact, activists have been trying for years to convince the Seaquarium to retire Lolita — at times, offering up to $1 million for her release. She made national television in 1995 when Dateline NBC played a recording of her pod’s vocalizations and viewers watched the whale cozy up to the speaker and listen. In 2003, a documentary about Lolita, Slave to Entertainment, hit film festivals across the country, garnering more attention for the cause. But only in the last few months has the campaign begun to gain momentum again, making news as more and more big names join up.

Julia-Levy’s passion for this campaign was evident just a few moments into our conversation — and his fervor shows no signs of waning. When asked what’s next, he hinted at a plan “involving a ‘big stick,’” but said he couldn’t elaborate just yet. No doubt when he does, he’ll have plenty of star power behind him.

How did you first hear about Lolita and get involved in the campaign?

I knew about Lolita for a long time, but it was probably about a year ago when I really got involved with the campaign. I was actually a little depressed because my little dog had just died — he was 9 years old. It was a very tough time for me, and I was looking at pictures of my dog on the internet and then I came across … [a video] of Lolita and the conditions of where she lives. And I got even more depressed.

Then I did a little bit of research on the situation and I contacted the Keiko Foundation, which is [under the umbrella of] the Earth Island Institute. They’re the ones that have the vast experience relocating animals to their natural habitat — like Keiko [the star of Free Willy] and Springer.

Who all is on board so far?

The latest one to join the campaign is Elton John. We have some of the most powerful producers on board: Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert, Richard Donner (who was behind the Keiko campaign and was extremely instrumental in the release of Keiko), David Permut, Steve Longi. We have a wide range of celebrities, too, including Johnny Depp, 50 Cent, [Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Plácido Domingo, Janet Jackson, Ringo Starr], Harrison Ford … the list is pretty extensive.

We really just want to send the right message. We want people to educate themselves and to learn and know that it is not possible for an animal of that magnitude, that large, that in her normal habitat is used to traveling long distances — at least 80 to 150 miles a day — to be confined in a small, little tank, day after day, night after night for the past 30-something years. That’s not normal. That animal needs to go back to her normal habitat.

What does it say about our culture that it wasn’t until these famous faces got attached to the campaign that people started to pay attention?

Unfortunately, in our society nobody listens to your next-door neighbor when he raises his voice. … When celebrities speak loud and stand up, it seems like everybody listens, it seems like everybody takes it more seriously, and I don’t understand why normal people do not do the same thing … This is work that we all have to do as citizens. We all have to raise our voices when something is not right. Why do we have to wait for celebrities to raise their voices first?

Is it the responsibility of celebrities then — because they are influencing the public this way — to research these organizations and get involved?

I think it’s everybody’s issue … every citizen in this country has the same responsibility as any celebrity in Hollywood. Everybody should be responsible for taking care of our environment, our water, our animals. This responsibility belongs to everyone.

The bed we’re gonna be sleeping in tomorrow, we’re making it today.

What do you say to the argument that Lolita shouldn’t be moved?

Lolita in nets during her capture.

Courtesy Raul Julia-Levy

Those who oppose this are extremely arrogant. Who are they to say that animals cannot be relocated? If you put a person in a cage for 30 years and you ask him to choose — “Do you want to get out of that cage or do you want to stay there?” — what do you think he’s going to say? He’s gonna say he wants to get out of that cage. Unfortunately, animals cannot speak. That’s why we need to speak for those animals who cannot speak for themselves.

For those who say, “Oh, the animal is happy here because we love him,” it’s completely erroneous. Animals need to be loved by humans — but in their normal habitat. Meaning: Respected. We need to respect their habitat; we need to respect their privacy; and we need to respect their freedom.

I don’t want to love animals in captivity; I want to let them go. And this animal surely deserves to go back to her family, to her normal habitat. This animal has paid the highest price of her life: Being confined to a cage for 37 years. I can tell you 100 percent that animal cannot wait for the day to come that she’s going to be free.

Speaking of raising voices — tell me about the benefit concert. Is that still in the works?

It’s part of our plans to put on a benefit concert — absolutely. We want to do it in Miami, a couple of blocks from the Seaquarium. We’re planning a series of events.

But right now, our team is in the process of negotiations with the Seaquarium. We will try every single diplomatic road to resolve this situation properly for both parties. This has to be a winning situation for both parties.

I think [Seaquarium owner Arthur] Hertz should really think about this because he’s got a whale that’s not going to live more than five years in that tank. And he can come out of this one looking like a hero. It’s up to him. But like I said, our team is putting together a diplomatic plan to negotiate the situation, make both parties win, and do the right thing.

So that’s the first step … and if that doesn’t work?

Then the campaign goes to a whole new level …

raul julia levy  news in wikio

http://www.wikio.com/search/raul+julia+levy

A harlequin Great Dane is the tallest dog in the world, according to Guinness World Records

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2005/10/26/warren.ca.guinness.big.dog.kxtv?iref=videosearch

Raul Julia Levy and

Celebrity support is putting pressure on the Miami Seaquarium to release one of their prized Orcas. Lolita the killer whale has been part of the aquarium’s dog and pony show for the last 37 years, spending her days performing and her nights in a cramped tank that measures 80ft. at its widest point. Lolita is 20ft. long and 7,000 lbs.

Local activists have been calling for her release for years, but after a Newsweek article broke the story in January, a whole new force of nature has come to Lolita’s rescue — star power. All sorts of celebs are jumping on the ‘free Lolita’ bandwagon including rappers 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and A-listers like Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford. Hollywood producer Raul Julia-Levy is even working on a benefit concert for the killer whale.

Are these celebrities really interested in what’s best for Lolita? Surely, after an animal is in captivity for 37 years, releasing it back to the wild isn’t as simple as dropping it off at Puget Sound and hoping everything will be OK. Similar efforts were undertaken to free Keiko, the charismatic killer whale of “Free Willy” fame. Back in the ocean, Keiko’s condition deteriorated steadily until he died, despite the daily monitoring of the Ocean Futures Society.

 Raul Julia-Levy (http://www.rauljulialevy.com), actor and philanthropist, announces exclusive alliance with the Free Willy Keiko Foundation / Earth Island Institute (http://www.earthisland.com) to reunite captive orca, Lolita, with her pod in Puget Sound.

Much has been made in the news in the last month about a coalition of recording artists, actors and producers teaming up in hopes of helping Miami Seaquarium’s performing killer whale Lolita rejoin her family group in the Pacific Northwest. Actor Raul Julia-Levy, the official spokesperson for this coalition, announced today that he is continuing a campaign designed to gain public awareness and ultimately the release of one of the last remaining wild captive orcas, Lolita.

This elite coalition includes national/global partners around the world, including Ed Elbert, Richard Donner, David Permut, Steve Longi, Johnny Depp, Cameron Crowe, Jonathan Sanger, Harrison Ford, Elton John, 50 Cent, Hayden Panettiere, Placido Domingo, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson, Truth Hurts, Richard Grieco, Billy Zane and recently the international auto maker Saab. In the Saab commercial, it features Lolita in her tank, along with a chained dog, and a bird flying against glass window, with the theme, “Release Me”, including a tagline, “The Power of Nature Just Wants to be Free.”

In announcing this alliance, Julia-Levy states that The Free Willy Keiko Foundation (http://www.keiko.com) has unique expertise in the capture and the care of orcas. They are the only non-government, non-profit organization in the world with experience in successfully translocating an adult killer whale over long distances. (Keiko, from Mexico City to Newport, OR, and then from Newport to Iceland.)

The Free Willy Keiko Foundation assembled an A-list team of veterinarians and handlers and an extraordinary amount of expertise. Although Keiko never found his family, the project is considered by many to be successful in fulfilling a promise made to millions of kids around the world — to make Keiko free. Now they’re confident if given a chance, they can help write that Hollywood ending for Lolita.

Unlike Keiko, Lolita’s family exists in the waters of the Puget Sound, and she still vocalizes her family recognizable call, and through the past three decades, the Southern Resident Orca Community is now considered to be one of the most studied groups of orcas in the world. Bringing Lolita back home to her family (pod) could be a boon to the whale population in Puget Sound, as well as sending a loud and clear message to the world that animals on our planet do have a voice–it is our voice.

“There’s no other group out there with the kind of knowledge and resources that the Free Willy Keiko Foundation has that can give Lolita the best chance of retirement,” says Julia-Levy. “But the bottom line is, we don’t own the whale,” Julia-Levy is quick to note. “The Miami Seaquarium does.”

However, the Seaquarium is concerned about the welfare of Lolita because she never had to find her own food, and has had constant human contact for nearly four decades; therefore, a move across the country could be too stressful. Some scientists have suggested the transport could even kill her.

Julia-Levy has a different opinion. He says, “Based on the reports we have received from leading scientists is that she’s in incredible health, and that’s solely because of the love and care that she’s received at The Miami Seaquarium. That also makes her an exceptional candidate for safe transport and reintroduction to her natural habitat.”

“Although we appreciate the support in-kind, from organizations and individuals who have come forward to yield expertise, ownership and credentials in this effort.” Julia-Levy goes on to say, “It is through our exclusive alliance with the Free Willy Keiko Foundation that we can build the best bridge with the Seaquarium to work together to do the right thing for Lolita.”

Inquiries about this campaign can be directed to the Earth Island Institute.

Media Contact:

David Phillips

davep @ earthisland.org

Earth Island Institute

300 Broadway, Suite 28

San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 788 3666 X 145

www.earthisland.org

HOLLYWOOD—A killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium has recently gained the attention of Hollywood celebrities that are now campaigning for her freedom.  Since 1995, activists have endeavored to return Lolita to her native waters and her family off the coast of Washington State.  However, not everyone agrees that Lolita should be released into the wild.

Lolita’s capture Courtesy of the Orca Network

Lolita was three years old when she was first captured from the Puget Sound in 1970.  Aircraft and capture boats threw bombs into the water to herd the family of orcas towards their nets.  Six calves were separated from their mothers and sold to marine parks worldwide.  Lolita was taken to Miami and placed in a pool 18 feet deep and 35 feet by 80 feet across.  She has remained there for 37 years.  

Lolita At Miami Seaquarium Courtesy of the Orca Network

Before the practice was outlawed in 1976, a total of 134 orcas were snatched from the ocean and only 44 of those have survived.  At the age of 42, Lolita is a true exception as the average life expectancy of a captive whale is 25-35 years.  Miami Seaquarium owners say she gets daily check-ups and receives only the best care. 

The Seaquarium is concerned about the well-fare of Lolita because she never had to find her own food, and has had constant human contact for nearly four decades; therefore, a move across the country could be too stressful.  Some scientists have suggested the transport could even kill her.

Howard Garret, Board President of the Orca Network has been striving for Lolita’s freedom since 1995 and says a careful transport and reintroduction program has been developed to bring the orca home safely. “Moving orcas by transport aircraft is routine and has never resulted in any harm to an orca,” Garret says.  The estimated time from pool to ocean is about 12 hours. Lolita will be kept in a sea pen, re-taught to eat live fish, and other skills to live in the wild.  “Every step of the way Lolita would be accompanied by the care staff she has grown to trust,” Garret explained.  

Producer and philanthropist Raul Julia-Levy has recently become involved in the effort and has gathered some star-studded support.  “This beautiful animal deserves to be free, she won’t live another five years in that stinky tank,” declared Levy.  Richard Greco, Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Jonathan Silverman, and Billy Zane are just a few of the celebrities that have joined the campaign. “We are not activists. We are directors, we are producers, we are actors that have a tremendous love for animals and this is a very sad story,” stated Levy.

The Swedish auto maker Saab has even produced a commercial featuring Lolita in her tank.  The commercial’s message is “the power of nature wants to be free, release it,” and it presents images of a butterfly trapped indoors, a chained dog, and Lolita.     

The Earth Island Institute (EII) has also come on board.  In 1994, the EII established the Free Willy Keiko Foundation and with the help of the executive producer of the film “Free Willy,” Richard Donner, eventually reintroduced the Orca back into the wild.  Keiko starred in three films before he was rescued from an aquarium in Mexico City, rehabilitated, and released near Iceland in 2002.  Unfortunately, about a year later Keiko died of acute pneumonia in the Taknes fjord, Norway.   

At 27 years old, Keiko was the second oldest male orca in captivity.  David Phillips of the EII said in a press release, “Keiko was a trailblazer, the first orca whale ever rescued from captivity. Keiko showed what is possible if these animals are just given the chance.”         

Orcas are very social and normally stay with their family pods for their entire lives. Scientists were never able to locate Keiko’s family which might have improved his chances for survival.  However, scientists have studied Lolita’s family and the pod still appears in the Puget Sound.  Howard Garret says, “The very fact that Lolita’s family has been thoroughly documented for over 30 years and predictably appears along San Juan Island every summer guarantees that Lolita will have the opportunity to communicate with her family.” 

Raul Julia-Levy says, “We are getting ready to negotiate with Mr. Hertz (Miami Seaqurium owner) and I believe, in my heart, he will do the right thing. Whales are not pets to make money off of.”  With some of the most powerful movie producers, influential actors, and top scientists on hand, Levy is confident of Lolita’s inevitable freedom.