UPDATE: February 26th- 1:15 pm: Jim Atchison, President and CEO of SeaWorld said that Tilikum, the killer whale which took the life of a top trainer on Wednesday, Dawn Brancheau, will remain part of the team of whales.  He said that although the whale shows have been currently suspended since the incident, the shows will recommence tomorrow in Orlando and other SeaWorld locations.  However, Atchison said that there would be no in-water interactions with trainers until the review is complete.
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As SeaWorld officials gear up for a second press briefing later today, there are reports that it has no plans to euthanize the 12,300 pound killer whale, Tilikum, that took the life of one of its most experienced trainers, Dawn Brancheau.
Brancheau, 40, who had some 16 years experience working with killer whales, was attacked on Wednesday afternoon, by Tilikum shortly after what some describe as a great session before the start of the Shamu show, to the horror of tourists. Initially, it was been reported that Brancheau had slipped and fallen into the tank where the whale was kept and she was then attacked by Tilikum. Those reports have been contradicted by SeaWorld’s Curator, Chuck Tompkins who in an interview yesterday said, Brancheau’s pony tail swung in front of the killer whale who held onto it, pulling her under water and holding her underwater. There is video which shows Brancheau playing, dancing and feeding Tilikum just before he pulled her into the tank. Autopsy reports confirm that Blancheau died of severe injuries and drowning.
SeaWorld has currently suspended its Shamu shows not only in Orlando , but in San Diego and San Antonio, pending a review of its safety procedure and policies. Although its protocols are being reviewed, there is no indication that Tilikum would be put down or put back into the wild. Despite the cries from animal lovers, including People for the Ethical Threatment of Animals (PETA) that the giant orca should be released to a coastal sanctuary which would allow him to swim in the ocean, Brancheau’s family said that Dawn would not have wanted anything to be done to Tilikum.
Former SeaWorld head trainer, Thad Lacinak, speaking this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America said it appeared that Brancheau could have made a mistake in working with Tilikum. Lacinak said there was a protocol in place which disbarred trainers from lying down with the killer whale. According to Lacinak, it appeared that Brancheau may have been lying with the killer whale in a four-inch water slide out, prior to the attack.
Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is continuing with its investigation into the exact cause of Brancheau’s death.
Trainers have said that it is imperative that relationships be built with these animals, but that the risk is every present with killer whales.
Critics have said that, although Tilikum is a money-making machine for SeaWorld, it is inconceivable that he would be allowed to perform again. They argue that the orca is much too large to be in such a confined space and should be allowed to go free.
Tilikum, the 12,000 pound killer whale has been involved in two previous deaths.
These whales are intended to be in the ocean. It is to late for the ones in captivity. They can not safely be put back in thier own enviroment. It is time to stop breeding Tillikum, unless the intent is to release his offspring back in to thier natural habitat. If these trainers love these animals the way they claim then how can they tolerate them being kept in such a confined area. I for one can not stand to see a confined animal and wouldn’t give you 2 cents to see a whale in Sea World. I will however watch them of the Pacific coast.
If this whale can figure out how to kill a human and not only once, but three times, I’m pretty sure he can figure out how to eat in the wild. People are worried about Tilikum not being able to survive in the wild, but Killer Whales don’t have any pretators, they are at the top of the food chain. Humans are the pretator of Killer Whales.