UPDATE 10/11/2024: Subsequent to the publication of this post, we spoke with Spencer Errickson, Unsafe Structures Section Supervisor with the Miami-Dade County Code Compliance Division. Mr. Errickson stated that since the citation was against another County department – Parks, Recreation, and Outdoor Spaces (PROS) – there would be no eviction and only fees would be charged from one department to the other.
The killer whale Tokitae and her dolphin companion Li’i were allowed to stay in the Whale Bowl at the Miami Seaquarium for one reason: their caretakers were allowed to enter the facility. They were allowed to enter the facility for one reason: scaffold and plywood shorings were installed to protect them as they entered and exited the structure that had been condemned in 2021 by Miami-Dade County.
ABOVE IMAGE: Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald
On September 23, 2022, the Fire Marshall and Building Inspector cited numerous code violations that needed to be fixed in order for continued occupancy. The process included applying for new construction permits.
In October 2022 , the park’s counsel asked for an extension, based on “several technical problems” faced by the client.
At an April 17, 2023 Unsafe Structures Board meeting, the park’s lawyers withdrew their extension request. In a June 23, 2023 email correspondence with us, Christina Alonso, a spokesperson for the County’s Code Enforcement Division, explained: “As for the withdrawal of the extension, this impacted the case by reverting to the original board order from September 2022. The owners are following the timeline and are on track to completion within the given timeframe of 120 days after the permits were obtained.”
The 120 days to comply with the September order would then take effect starting April 19, the day the extension request was withdrawn.
Building permit 2023041050 for the shorings was issued on April 19. Add 120 days and you get Thursday, August 17, 2023. Protocol for County-owned property is to force eviction once a deadline is reached if there is a failure for compliance or an extension request.
Tokitae died August 18.
Very suspicious coincidence ??? There is something very very fishy about the death of Tokitae.
Absolutely! It would not surprise me if they putt Lolita to sleep !! I’m so enraged. We will keep fight for the rights of these animals! Miami Seaquarium should be brought to justice for the death of Lolita and many more of the animals !
Yep ‼️ you have got something right they said that her health was getting better than all of sudden she is dead IDK about this
There is more than meets the eye here with the sudden death of Tokitae. There are many flys in the oitment…these are nails in that coffin…and who will sue the owner? Tokitae’s tank/life became smaller and smaller until someone decided to put her down and get out of this red tape. Here’s that TRUTH that I’ve been waiting for. There are no coincidences in life. She was wrongfully taken out…terminated!
Omg she was killed. No doubts. I knew it. Miami is Full of corruption heartless 💔 😪
We need to make Miami Seaquarium pay for what they did to her!!! So incredibly sad!!! They CAN NOT get away with this!!
Corruption all around that facility, starting with the Dolphin Company. Eduardo needs to be shut down. I had no doubts they euthanized her, but here is the proof. The world needs to know The truth for Toki. Thank you for sharing this. 💔
They need to pay for stealing, isolating, torturing, and murdering an incredibly intelligent and understanding creature. This is just one elephant example of the abusive culture towards their captive animals for their financial and ego gains. Empty the tanks and bankrupt the owner of this atrocious facility!!!!
When I heard she died I knew they killed her !! The time was right on that day..but not for Toki. Murder is murder know matter what specie.
I knew it right from Friday when I heard the awful news. I knew they killed her but I didn’t know what the reason was. It all seemed suspicious right out of the gate.
Such a coincidence?
I don’t think so, they needed her out of there and killing her was the easy way out, now they will collect her life insurance policy.
I look forward to seeing whistle blowers come out with the truth!
I posted on here yesterday and were directing people to this website on my Instagram account in the whale and dolphin community as many are suspicious of Toki’s “sudden death.” Today, my Instagram account was taken down for this. For what, telling the truth. Someone saw the post who didn’t like it.
Oh my goodness! If this is true, there has to be accountability! This is nothing less than murder!
I knew I was right! They killed her ! And the next victim is Lii if we don’t do something asap.
MSQ are MURDERS! That’s why the rush the necropsy and cut her poor body into pieces and placed in 20,50 gallons barrels . And as if they hadn’t done enough, the psychopaths still want to continue making money with her bones by putting them in Museums. Thank God there’s some arrangement an small group of Lummi Nation will get all Tokitae body pieces and cremate her and take her back where she belongs and gave her the ceremony she deserves.
I’m curious to know what it cost MSQ to keep Toki, on a monthly or yearly basis. Food, medical, trainers, water, etc…. Anyone know where I can find that info? Considering she was no longer generating money for them, and costing more to get the stadium & tank up to code, its almost too obvious they killed her.