Jimmy Buffett fans calling themselves “Parrotheads” reinforced the dolphin & manatee causes SAG HARBOR, New York––James William Buffett, 76, born on Christmas Day 1946, known to the world as entertainer and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, died on September 1, 2023, at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, from complications of Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin […]
Lolita was not just a money-making spectacle! by Beth Clifton
Arguably, it is because of Lolita that we no longer refer to the orcas as “killer whales.” Amid the sea of crocodile tears shed by those who in a variety of ways have exploited the life and death of Lolita the orca, and continue to exploit her memory, I feel strongly that I have something […]
The orca whale Lolita, 57, spent 53 years in prison without killing anyone
Jailed at four years old, Lolita spent 45 years at the Miami Seaquarium in solitary confinement MIAMI, Florida––The orca whale known to the world for most of her life as Lolita, 57, died on August 18, 2023 at the Miami Seaquarium, 53 years after her capture at Penn Cove, Washington. Initially dubbed Tokitae upon capture, […]
Iceland whaling halt upstages Ric O’Barry appeal for Russian beluga
Paul Watson & crew wait near Iceland to see if fisheries minister sticks to her guns against last whaling baron Kristján Loftsson NORWEGIAN SEA––Ric O’Barry, 83, on June 20, 2023 issued an urgent appeal on behalf of Hvaldimir, possibly the most famous of all beluga whales. But Paul Watson, 72, again upstaged O’Barry, as he […]
A “win-win” for Lolita, & even more for those promoting her homecoming
Lolita the orca whale may return to Puget Sound MIAMI, Florida––Lolita, the 57-year-old orca whale who has become a white elephant after 53 years in the 67-year-old Miami Seaquarium, may be returning home to Puget Sound, Washington, before the end of 2023. That might afford Lolita, also called Tokitae at capture, a comfortable retirement in […]
The damage is done, by Helene Hesselager O’Barry
Editor’s note: Helene O’Barry, wife of longtime dolphin freedom advocate Ric O’Barry, follows up below on An open letter to James Cameron & Avatar crew by Ric O’Barry, posted on December 15, 2022. Meanwhile, clarifies Ric, “Dolphin Project is not boycotting the movie Avatar: The Way of Water. “The problem is with their obscene publicity […]
Sam Lipman, 32, & Ken Balcomb, 82, devoted their lives to whales
Balcomb spent more than 50 years in the cause, Lipman just 15, but both left a mark FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington; CRAWLEY, West Sussex, U.K.––Self-described “orcaholics” Samantha “Sam” Lipman, 32, and Ken Balcomb, 82, half a world and 50 years apart, died on November 29, 2022 and December 15, 2022, […]
An open letter to James Cameron & Avatar crew by Ric O’Barry
“I was hoping it was a mistake. “It wasn’t, but it was a brutal wake up call.” I watched the video of the Avatar: The Way of Water Tokyo Press Event several times – held on/around December 10 at the Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa. I hope you will watch it, too. (See link below.) To watch this […]
Bill Jordan, 97, wildlife vet, author, & founder of animal aid charities
Jordan had a key role in forming at least nine organizations in 48 years, most of which still exist William Johnston Jordan, 97, known to the world as Bill Jordan, wildlife veterinarian, author, and founder or cofounder of a constellation of wildlife care projects spanning the globe, died on July 5, 2022, at the SSM Health/St. […]
Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project celebrates a triple dolphin release in Bali
Culminates 12-year campaign BALI, Indonesia––Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project on September 3, 2022 celebrated the release into the open ocean of the bottlenose dolphins Johnny, Rocky, and Rambo, after three years of rehabilitation and a decade-long campaign to free them from the captive dolphin exhibition industry. “We’re tracking them now,” Ric O’Barry emailed to ANIMALS 24-7. […]