Tokitae lived in a tank approximately 80 by 35 feet in size for 53 years, one of the smallest enclosures ever used to house an orca. In the wild, Southern Resident orcas may travel 50 to 100 miles per day within complex social and acoustic environments.

These conditions raised long-standing concerns about physical health, sensory deprivation, and psychological well-being. At the same time, caregivers described long-term bonds formed through daily interaction. Both realities are part of her story.