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After years of work, Tokitae, the last Southern Resident orca in captivity, may finally be coming home.

June has been proclaimed Orca Action Month in the Pacific Northwest.

Submitted by Wild Orca.

Orcas and humans are at the top of their respective food chains. To understand why, just take a look under the hood at their highly complex brains.

After years of work, Tokitae, the last Southern Resident orca in captivity, may finally be coming home.

An plan announced last week to return Lolita, a killer whale held captive for more than a half-century, to her home waters in Washington’s Puget Sound thrilled those who have long advocated for her to be freed from her tank at the Miami Seaquarium

Tokitae has shared a tank with another orca, Hugo before he died in the 80s and also with dolphins, including one that may be coming with her to the Salish Sea.

Bringing Tokitae home will be one thing, but ensuring her safety presents potentially an even greater challenge.

On a sunny and windy day in October 2022, naturalist and guide Bethany Shimasaki was leading a whale watch off the coast of San Juan Island when her greatest hope came true: She spotted her favorite h