Protesters Demand Release Of Miami Seaquarium's Biggest Attraction

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A woman from New Zealand is protesting the captivity of one of Miami Seaquarium's biggest attractions.

Danielle Dalls has spent four days in a bathtub outside the theme park. She said she's simulating Lolita the killer whale's life in captivity. Several others joined her on the side of the road, holding up signs.

Danielle left her family behind and came to Miami after seeing the documentary, Blackfish.

She plans to hold her protest for 30 days to raise awareness.

"It's cruel. They're wild, sentient beings and don't belong in captivity. It's not conservation, it's not education. It's animal cruelty and it's all about profit," Dalls said.

Miami Seaquarium released a statement that questioned whether an older orca like Lolita could even survive in the wild.

"There is no scientific evidence that the 49-year-old post-reproductive Lolita could survive if she were to be moved from her home at Miami Seaquarium to a sea pen or to the open waters of the Pacific Northwest. It would be reckless and cruel to treat her life as an experiment and jeopardize her health and safety in order to appease a fringe group."