Exploring A Billionaire’s Plan To Rescue A Killer Whale From Captivity

While it’s pretty easy to look at the way some billionaires spend their money and roll your eyes, Indianapolis Colts CEO Jim Irsay might give restore some of your hope in humanity.

As the backlash against Sea World and other aquariums has increased in recent years over their treatment of captive animals, Irsay is mounting an ambitious plan to release one orca into the wild.

A $20 million journey

The philanthropist has set his sights one Tokitae, a killer whale that has lived more than half a century in a small enclosure at the Miami Seaquarium. The Dolphin Company, which owns the facility, is also on board.

Here’s the plan:

• Tokitae, who is 21 feet long and weighs 8,000 pounds would be hoisted via a harness.
• She would then be placed in a glass tank and transferred onto a truck at a nearby airport.
• From there, the killer whale would hitch a cross-country ride on a large cargo plane.

All told, the trek is expected to cost a cool $20 million — including about $500,000 that has already been a life-support apparatus that will accompany Tokitae on the journey.

Reunited and it feels so good

The trip could take place in less than two years, which is beneficial for the captive orca. She remains in relatively good health at the moment but there’s some evidence that she’s making a turn for the worse.

“She’s healthy, I’ve got the money, let’s move her,” Irsay insisted during a recent interview.

Killer whales are known to form life-long family bonds, and scientists believe Tokitae’s mother is still alive and swimming in the Seattle-area bay where Irsay plans to release her.

There’s a chance that a dolphin named Lii, who currently lives in the same enclosure, could join Tokitae in her new home.

Chris Agee August 3rd, 2023

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