Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca that killed a trainer, dies

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: BBC

Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca that killed a trainer, dies

26 minutes ago

Tilikum, the orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010, has died, his owners have announced.

SeaWorld said it was "deeply saddened" by the killer whale's death, saying Tilikum had suffered serious health issues but did not give a cause of death.

He was estimated to be 36-years-old and was born in waters off Iceland.

Tilikum was featured in the documentary Blackfish, which criticised parks that keep killer whales in captivity.


Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38531967

---

I always try to go with a local source first. The Orlando Sentinel sent me off into finding a local circular. Then the story there didn't have its own link. The story will be all over the news.

The trainer was Dawn Brancheau.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Brancheau

Dawn Therese Brancheau (ne LoVerde, April 16, 1969 February 24, 2010) was a senior animal trainer at SeaWorld. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl. She was killed by an orca, Tilikum, becoming the only SeaWorld trainer killed by an animal. However, her death was the third fatality associated with Tilikum, and many other trainers have been seriously injured by orcas.

Tilikum (orca)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_(orca)

Here's the OSHA report:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id202528139

And an OSHA news release:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_tableNEWS_RELEASES&p_id23445

[hamsterjill]

1. Heartbreaking all the way around.

"Granny" was just in the news for passing at an estimated 105 years. Tilikum's life was cut short by captivity in all likelihood.

Tilikum tugged at my heartstrings. I will content myself with the thought that he is now free again and no longer prostituted by Sea World. His suffering as told in Blackfish has been a major factor in the economic downfall of Sea World.

[PearliePoo2]

10. I am very fortunate to have encountered "Granny" many times while out on our sailboat!

One memorable time, we saw the pod approaching and we hove to, coming to a complete stop. The lead Orca dove beneath the boat, turned on her side so her dorsal fin wouldn't strike our vessel and then surfaced and blew so close to us that I could smell the fish on her exhale. Let me say that it gets your attention when a huge black shadow is right underneath you.
I cry for Tillicum and I grieve for Granny (J2) and to Sea World I say: FUCK YOU CORPORATE BASTARDS.

[hamsterjill]

11. How awesome an experience!

+1 on your post! Thank you for sharing.

[HassleCat]

2. Greed is good!

They were making money with Tilikum, so they kept him, knowing he was dangerous.

[hamsterjill]

3. "They" are the ones who made him dangerous.

I understand your point, and you're right. He'd killed twice and Sea World still insisted that their programs were safe for their trainers, etc. I don't want humans killed. But you cannot take a wild creature and try to make it something that it is not meant to be. The stress and boredom that Tilikum endured caused him to lash out and kill.

[secondwind]

6. I agree with you

[OnlinePoker]

7. He killed three times

Once in BC and twice at Orlando.

[hamsterjill]

8. I stand corrected.

I had forgotten the first one. Thank you for setting the record straight.

[mchill]

9. And that is too young for a whale to die

Stress

[montanacowboy]

4. We destroy everything we

touch

I am sick and tired of being a human being

[secondwind]

5. Poor animal.... I'm sorry but these water parks are nothing but slow death for these magnificent

creatures...

[demigoddess]

12. an animal meant to swim thousands of miles cannot be kept in a pond.

[Raine]

13. So sad, he should've been living free in the open seas

and not in a prison like Sea World!