A killer whale that killed its trainer in front of horrified onlookers will stay in its marine park, officials said, amid a raging
debate on keeping such animals in captivity. Tilikum- the five-tonne orca already linked to two other human deaths since
1991 - grabbed its veteran trainer by her ponytail and dragged her down
into its tank at the end of Wednesday's show in SeaWorld Orlando,Florida. The male whale was so aggressive rescuers
could not immediately jump in and assist the experienced trainer Dawn Brancheau, officials said. Instead, trainers guided
the massive black-and-white whale toward a smaller pool and lifted him out of the water by a large scale or platform to free Brancheau's dead body from its jaws.
Witness Sue Nichols, 67, said the crowd had had no warning that anything was brewing as the show was
already ending with most of the 50-strong audience having left their seats. The trainer would "pet him, and she would
get very close to him. She'd throw fish in his mouth and throw buckets of water in his mouth, which he seemed to enjoy. There was nothing aggravating or anything about it," Nichols said.
But then, "she was petting the whale and talking to him, and then all of a sudden he just reached up. He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while," she said.
"He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth." Nichols said an alarm sounded while park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away. Animal rights groups and activists pressed for Tilikum to be released in a controlled area, while some suggested putting him down.
But both ideas were ruled out by SeaWorld staff. "He's still going to be part of this family group here in Seaworld," SeaWorld
Parks and Entertainment corporate curator Chuck Tompkins said."He's got seven other killer whales that he lives with and we'll make sure he stays with his family ... We are going be very careful how the trainers
interact with him. The number one focus is still the safety of the trainers," he added.
Freya is quietly judging you. · Member since
OM NOM NOM MOAR TRAINERS PLZ.
Said the whale.
Lady Nyx · Member since
how do you explain that to a family?
"my cousin was eaten by a killer whale" O.o
what a way to go.
its not like its called a 'fluffy friendly sparkle whale'.
i'll stop.
The Real Wizard · Member since
As tragic as this is, it was completely avoidable.
Maybe it's about time we realize that it's not a good idea to remove these large mammals from their natural habitat to train them to amuse audiences. Eventually they will crack after enough whistles blown and jumps made.
«¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]Sir GH wrote: [/b]
As tragic as this is, it was completely avoidable.
Maybe it's about time we realize that it's not a good idea to remove these large mammals from their natural habitat to train them to amuse audiences. Eventually they will crack after enough whistles blown and jumps made.
[/QUOTE]
Couldn't agree more with you. I don't blame the poor animal that's trapped and trying to be raised and controlled in a human world. I blame the human's who capture, imprison and then train [i]any [/i]animal against its will, all for a blessed buck!
JoxerTheDeityPirate · Member since
yes,if only she chose to piss around with the 'fluffy wuffy cuddly whale' instead of the 'ooh,you look like a seal and you are getting on my tits with your 'lets make a twat' of me attitude and i'm gonna kill you whale'.
shame Spock wasn't there though,he could of done the vulcan mindmeld thingy on the whale like he did in Star Trek IV and saved the day
Mr Mercury · Member since
As someone who has been to Seaworld, I can say that the part where that trainer died is not as big as you think it would be. Seaworld should not have this sort of "attraction" going on tbh.......
JoxerTheDeityPirate · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]Mr Mercury wrote: [/b]
As someone who has been to Seaworld, I can say that the part where that trainer died is not as big as you think it would be. Seaworld should not have this sort of "attraction" going on tbh.......[/QUOTE]
i'm old enough to remember when Legoland was Windsor Safari Park and i visited it when i was about 11.
I was allowed to get 'up close and personal' with the killer whale they had there and i thought,even back then,that these creatures were too big for such an enclosure.I get teasy as a bag of wasps when i'm stuck in my little flat for a few days,i hate to think how 'teasy' a 2 tonne predator would get stuck in its tiny 'pool' when it's natural habitat is a 15,000 mile ocean.
beautifulsoup · Member since
Does Brian know about this? [img=/images/smiley/msn/wink_smile.gif][/img]
Micrówave · Member since
I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday.
Nobody's writing a story about me.
YourValentine · Member since
I totally agree with Sir GH. If you do not respect the nature of a big animal, do not be surprised if the animal fights back. It's heartbreaking to see how whales and dolphins are kept in much too small pools, often in chlorinated water. I wish people would boycott such "attractions" - it would end pretty soon if there were no money in it.
john bodega · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]beautifulsoup wrote: [/b]
Does Brian know about this? [img=/images/smiley/msn/wink_smile.gif][/img] [/QUOTE]
HAAAAAAA!
Mr.Jingles · Member since
Isn't it ironic that the attack happened during the show[b] "Dining with Shamu"?[/b]
I guess Shamu got tired of watching visitors eat, and decided to have a meal of his own.
On the killer whale:
It is cruel to take animals of that danger out of their natural habitat. They should just release it back into the wild. I've heard of people swimming in the ocean with these maginificent animals, just because they are quite happy cause they are in the wild. It is atrocious. Wheres poodle hair when you need him? *cough* I mean *cough* Brian of course!!! *cough*
