Toki's Story
Tokitae - also known as Lolita - was the last sole survivor of the hundreds of captured Southern Resident Orcas taken from the Salish Sea in Washington and sold to marine parks in the early 1970's. After 53 years of captivity in the smallest orca pool in the world, Toki tragically passed away a mere few months before her planned journey to a sanctuary back in her home waters.
Toki's family, the only critically endangered clan of Orcas listed on the American Endangered Species list now number only 74 individuals. They are slowly starving to death due to the destructive Lower Snake River dams and the devastating effects of Alaskan industrial trawler horrendous fishing practices. Their primary food source, Chinook or King salmon, are now in such low numbers they are now listed as threatened.
Her family will simply not survive if we allow their food to disappear. As I held Toki on the day she died, I promised her I would do everything I could to help save her family. You too can help her family by supporting the below organizations. Thank you.
Visit These Recommended Organizations and Show Your Support
Orca Network
Orca Network's Whale Sighting and Education Project encourages observation to increase awareness and knowledge about the Southern Resident Community of orcas (J, K and L pods), Bigg’s Transient orcas and other cetaceans, and foster a stewardship ethic to motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and restore their critical habitat.
Center for Whale Research
Since 1976, the Center for Whale Research (CWR) has been the leading organization monitoring and studying Southern Resident killer whales in their critical habitat: the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea. CWR performs an annual census and regular health assessments of the orca population, informs the government of the whales’ ecosystem needs, shares their stories with the world, and promotes ecosystem recovery. Our 48 years of research have created the only long-term data set about the Southern Residents’ behavior, health, and social dynamics.
Wild Orca
Wild Orca’s Killer Whale Health Monitoring utilizes non-invasive methods to reveal a near real-time window into the health of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. We coordinate with management agencies to inform the development of timely protections. We work to fill knowledge gaps about the relationship between human pressures and recovery needs.
Wild Salmon Org
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
Save Our wild Salmon is a diverse, nationwide coalition working together to restore wild salmon and steelhead to the rivers, streams and marine waters of the Pacific Northwest for the benefit of our region's ecology, economy and culture.
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
All about Alaskan Trawlers and the damage they do. we are hear to learn and find a common answer to try to SAVE OUR WATERS.
But in saying that other countries have had similar issues and we can learn from them. DO NOT discount any idea.
Toki TV
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch
Dedicated to the efforts to retire Tokitae/Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut to her home waters in the Salish Sea. Advocating in Faith through Prayer and Education
The Whale Sanctuary Project
Bringing an end to the exploitation of captive whales by creating seaside sanctuaries where they can live in a natural environment.
DamSense Org
Critically endangered salmon, orcas need you!
Breaching the lower Snake River dams is our last, best hope for their recovery. We need to restore the river and their ecosystem. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to act now.
DamSense is at the front lines of the fight to save Snake River salmon and the Southern Resident Orcas who rely on them for food. We work to educate key decision-makers and the public about the most efficient and economical pathway to immediate breaching of the lower Snake River dams.
One4Salmon Org
One4Salmon Org
Mission: To urgently protect and restore wild salmon populations and their ecosystems by mobilizing all stakeholders to collaboratively develop and implement bold, innovative, and sustainable solutions on a timeline. We engage diverse perspectives and continuous learning through transparent communications and engagement.
Marcia's Biography
Marcia Henton Davis was born in Buenos Aires Argentina in 1964 to American parents. She and her family traveled and lived in multiple countries throughout the 60’s and 70’s until finally permanently settling in central Florida. As a child, she became fascinated with the natural Florida beauty and its abundant wildlife, including dolphins, whales and manatees.
After learning behavioral aspects of canine conditioning, Marcia started her zoological career at Miami Seaquarium in 1987 and worked with Tokitae the beloved Orca until 1995. She then went on to work with terrestrial animals at multiple Florida zoos, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom where she taught operant conditioning techniques to new zookeepers while caring for African Elephants. Having the ability to work with a wide variety of animal species ranging from primates, manatees, big cats and large mammals, she garnered a full and diverse toolbox of animal behavioral knowledge. She went on to open her own swim school in 2006 teaching thousands of children water safety skills using operant conditioning techniques in Florida until 2023. She was then invited to join the project to bring her friend Tokitae home to a sea sanctuary being developed in her natal waters of the Salish Sea in Washington.
An ethologist, animal lover and rescuer, Marcia has always been driven by animal behavior, environmentalism and conservation. She authored a 2022 memoir about Tokitae titled “Pretty Colors - Nice Day” describing their friendship and early experiences together. In her most recent book “Unfathomable” she incorporates Tokitae’s tragic story as well as analyzes the deep connections we humans have with Orcas. Discussing humanity’s effects on this highly intelligent and kindred species and exposing how our decisions to keep these special beings in concrete tanks deeply affect not only their lives-but ours as well.
She has also published two books on operant swim teaching methodologies as well as developed and manufactures a child swim training device (yourswimbuddy.com). Having written and illustrated several children’s books; “My Dolphin Family” and “My Elephant Family”, which focus on the importance of sanctuaries and inspire young minds toward animal conservation.
Her goal is to bring awareness, protection, better stewardship and rights for our kindred marine counterparts-the cetaceans we share our blue planet with. By bringing together like minded people, sharing information and combining our energies, we can and will create better futures for them in our ever changing world.
Marcia’s blog explores critical cetacean issues, current projects and important causes with marine life and ocean conservation efforts around the world-highlighting the critical work to liberate cetaceans from their barren concrete tanks to long awaited ocean sanctuaries.
This platform is all inclusive and welcomes all perspectives and views with the expectation that respectable decorum is maintained.
My Areas of Concern and Action
Support Cetacean Sanctuary Projects
Creating sea sanctuaries for once captive marine mammals is critical to the welfare of captive cetaceans languishing in concrete tanks worldwide. The Whale Sanctuary Project is on the forefront with ongoing work currently happening at their upcoming Orca and Beluga sanctuary in Nova Scotia Canada. This groundbreaking project will be the first of its kind in the world and set the standard for future sanctuaries to come. Your continued support is vital for their success. Please join us in supporting these efforts by visiting whalesanctuaryproject.org
Orcas
There are currently around 57 Orcas in captivity worldwide. Many were born and purposefully bred within the confines of concrete tanks. Others were forcibly taken from their families. Orcas are top predators and have evolved to roam the vast oceans, not for human entertainment in small barren pools. The Orcas currently in the most need are; Kshamenk in Argentina-living with a dolphin in a tiny tank for over 35 years. Efforts to liberate him to a sanctuary are building but he needs more action soon. Naya-a 13 year old solitary female in Russia who recently lost her pool mates and her baby-now languishes alone. Wikie and Keijo- a mother and son in France who recently lost a young family member a few months ago still suffer daily. Each of these Orcas are "Someone". With your help and support, we can offer them a better future in a sea sanctuary where they can just be Orcas-not performers within concrete walls.
Breach the Dams
There is only one group of highly endangered Orcas in the United States; The Southern Resident Orcas of the Pacific Northwest. There are only 74 remaining and due to the damming of the Lower Snake River (among other threats) their numbers are stagnant. They are literally starving to death. The Chinook Salmon these amazing whales depend on are being choked out of existence as they are unable to travel upstream to spawning grounds in the dammed Snake River system. There are movements calling for local government state and federal action, however, progress is slow and meanwhile Orcas starve. Join us in supporting dam removal by visiting Damsense.org - Salmon Orca Project - Earth Justice
Alaskan Industrial Commercial Trawlers
Enormous industrial bottom dragger trawling throughout Alaskan waters have decimated the marine ecosystem not only in local waters, but affecting the entire western Pacific coast. This reckless industry is permitted by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to dump thousands of tons of dead animals as waste overboard or as they like to call it "bycatch". In 2024 alone the allowable number of Chinook salmon to be discarded as bycatch is 47,000 fish. This species of salmon is the primary food source for the endangered Southern Resident Orcas, who are currently starving due to lack of food. In 2023 alone 11 Alaskan Orcas (all females) were drowned in their nets and discarded as garbage. The absurd amount of allowable wanton waste this irresponsible method of fishing is producing is devastating to local communities, estuaries and entire marine ecosystems. Meanwhile NOAA is under the department of commerce-which clearly demonstrates our government's priorities. These large scale, wasteful commercial practices must be reined in immediately or the entire ecosystem in this region may not be able to recover. Please visit Stop Alaskan Bycatch Facebook page to learn more and participate in grass roots movements to stop them before it's too late.
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon or King Salmon were once so plentiful in the Pacific Northwest, commonly caught at nearly 6' long and found in almost every area of the Pacific coast. They are the most prized Salmon by fishermen, however, their numbers are in staggering decline. Due to the construction of hydroelectric dams in most of their historical spawning rivers, their numbers have plummeted causing consecutive fishing bans in the last few years. Human created fish hatcheries have also contributed to their demise causing disease to spread to native populations further reducing their numbers. Dams and industrial trawling together have given this species a double punch to their survival. To learn more about Salmon restoration and to take action, please contact NOAA at NOAA.gov and voice your concerns about unnecessary dams, Chinook bycatch by industrial Alaskan trawlers and visit and become active in groups like Dam Sense, Earth Justice and Wild Fish Conservancy among others. The precious Southern Resident Orcas will soon be extinct if we fail to recover the Chinook salmon they desperately need to survive. Where these antiquated dams have been removed, like the Elwha dam in WA, salmon are already making a comeback, we must continue to breach the remaining dams, especially the four lower Snake River Dams which directly affect Toki's family the Resident Orcas of the Salish Sea.
Great Whales
The world's great whales have begun to make some strides toward a comeback in recent years as most countries have banned whaling. Mostly due to this horrendous practice, many species' numbers were reduced to near extinction. Now there are only three countries who continue to hunt and kill whales; Iceland, Norway and Japan-who collectively have killed nearly 40,000 whales since the ban. Despite all other countries following the International Whaling Commission's vote to implement a moratorium on whaling in 1982 that went into effect in 1986, the despicable practice continues. Currently, the most endangered whale is the North Atlantic Right whale, which due to ship strikes and entanglement are struggling to survive. Navy sonar testing, ghost nets, starvation and pollution continue to threaten all whales including both baleen and toothed whales like the Sperm whale. We can all raise our voices and help all marine life by choices and actions we make now. You can learn how to help whales by supporting conservation groups like Greenpeace, The US Humane Society, Sea Shepherd and International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Strandings
Dolphins and whales that wash up on beaches is tragic and often times, despite valiant efforts by rescuers, many times are euthanized or unable to return to the ocean. It is not fully understood why cetaceans strand themselves, especially mass strandings where entire pods willfully swim onto dry land, but we assume that either the matriarch is ill or the animals navigation was somehow affected. Many times young animals who have been separated from their pods or mothers will become ill and succumb to the tides. If you find a stranded dolphin or whale it is very important to contact experts immediately and try to keep the animal wet until help arrives. In most cases, juvenile cetaceans can be rescued, rehabilitated and either released or cared for. Large cetaceans are quite difficult due to their size and typically once stranded do not have a good prognosis. Orcas occasionally strand, some while preying on seals or sealions. A number of Orcas have been "rescued" from these situations and taken into captivity. We must do our best to return them to the sea if possible and there are many stranding networks with experienced experts in the field who can deploy quickly in most cases depending on the area. Trying to return an Orca once stranded should be handled by experts if possible to ensure the animals' survival. Many Gray whales in California are found stranded with evidence of ship strikes, in which cases they are mortally wounded and immediately euthanized. There has been some progress with vessels over 65 feet being required to slow to 10 knots along the East coast during the Right Whale's migratory season, which hopefully reduces these collisions. These are steps in the right direction but more must be done to protect them. If you live in a coastal area where strandings happen, research a local Marine Mammal Stranding team or call your local Marine Patrol for assistance.