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Killer Whale Tilikum drowns SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of audience
Dawn Brancheau, a veteran trainer, died Wed. (Feb. 24) at Sea World in Orlando, Florida, after being dragged under the water by a killer whale.
Tilikum, nicknamed Tili, reportedly grabbed the trainer in his jaws from a poolside platform, shook her and dragged her underwater. The whale charged through the pool carrying her in his jaws. Other workers tried to help but could not free her in time and she drowned.
According to reports, Tili was previously acting strange during the performance by not taking direction by the trainers. This is the third human death Tilikum has been linked to. Tili killed a trainer in 1991 and killed a man during park after hours in 1999.
If this whale is so dangerously unbalanced or unhappy, why keep him at the park? Don't let him near humans or set him free. Unfortunately, the whale may now be too dependent on humans for food to survive in the wild.
For anyone who has seen the incredible documentary, "The Cove," this terrible incident is no surprise. Dolphins, which are simply smaller whales, are driven mad in captivity in part due to the lack of freedom to swim as they can in the wild and the deafeningly loud noise levels in those parks.
Here's what "Cove" star Richard O'Barry, the original Flipper trainer who has spent the rest of his life fighting to prevent dolphin capture and free captive dolphins, has to say about life in captivity for these whales
"Working back in the 1960s for Miami Seaquarium, I captured and trained dolphins - including the five dolphins who played the role of Flipper in the popular American TV series of the same name. I have witnessed firsthand the struggling and suffering imposed on dolphins during the violent capture process and their subsequent lifelong confinement.
I have also seen a great many captive-born dolphins die in these killing tanks. And I have also personally buried countless dolphins at Miami Seaquarium; so many, in fact, that we ran out of room to bury any more. When Cathy, the dolphin who played Flipper most of the time, died (he says she forced herself to stop breathing) in my arms, I realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks was simply wrong."
SeaWorld has suspended the killer whale shows at all of its parks, which also include locations in San Diego and San Antonio, to review "procedures."
What are your thoughts on this unfortunate? Should whales still be kept captive at Seaworld for entertainment purposes?
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this must end these buitiful animals must be free when are we going to relize this i dont blame the animal what would you do it is a form of slavery
slavery huh? it's a freakin whale. that's one of the stupidest things i've ever heard. do i think we should keep forcing animals to do things without giving them proper living space or whatever they need? no, but it's osunds like this all could've been avoided if they'd put the animal down or released it when it killed back in 1991.
Absolutely the animal is NOT to blame for this! I think that all of these parks that use animals for our entertainment should be shut down! Animals belong in the wild and I believe that this whale should NOT be put down but, be set free. I have heard people say that he may not make it back in the wild but, at least he should have a fighting chance to do so, if he dies at least he was free!
Joe, you're obviously uneducated about what you're talking about.
What does the name Killer Whale mean? They are killers, if a human had done this he would be punished for his crime. Three strikes and your out. He had 3 strikes. Phillip
How sad what we humans do to the world's (not our) animals. Maybe the real experiment should be capturing some humans, keeping them in a confined cage and teach them silly tricks for others to be entertained.
Let's see how long before they go mad. These animals (Orcas) are 3 of the most intelligent animals on earth besides elephants and man. (They actually recognize themselves in the mirror).
Allow them the freedom in which G-d intended and not be a money machine sperm donor for Blackstone.
Hey,people,I'm public speaker of the group Spirit of Namu....anyway,we are trying to save Tillikum AND Lolita and get seaworld shut down...and I'm trying to get it so that its a LAW that you cant kill or steal whales or Dolphins from the wild. And guess what? I'm 14...I have years and years before i get old so before then it will become law.....also add Tillikum Orca on facebook...to help me out that much more. TY!
This angers me a lot. I saw the killer whale show at Sea world, and also a dolphin show, and I swam with dolphins at Discovery cove, and saw them at a couple other aquariums as well. they don't have the freedom they do in the wild, and I agree with Eugeen that it is like slavery, and that dolphins should be seen in their normal and natural habitat. Why destroy God's creation? Why capture something that's so beautiful? Turn them all lose, and close the parks, and zoos that keep them! That's all I have to say.
I think that tilikum should stay in the show. people enjoy wonderful creatures like tilikum. I also do think that they should maybe have higher safty staff and even equipment