By FITSNews || You’ve heard the expression “the show must go on,” right?
Well, they’re taking that to extremes at SeaWorld in Orlando, where killer whale shows will resume Saturday – just three days after a 12,000-pound orca named Tillikum (above) grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau and dragged her underwater to her death in front of dozens of horrified onlookers.
Bills to pay, we guess.
Amazingly, Tillikum – who has already been involved in the deaths of two other people – will continue to perform at SeaWorld and will not be “subject to any form of punishment,” according to the park’s president.
SeaWorld has a policy of not killing animals who display aggressive behavior, and Brancheau’s family said Friday that they don’t want to see the 22-foot whale euthenized.
In fact, Brancheau’s mentor said Friday that the tragedy was the result of “trainer error.”
From ABC News:
“Dawn, if she was standing here with me, would tell you that it was her mistake that it happened,” Thad Lacinak, former head trainer at SeaWorld and Brancheau’s teacher, told “Good Morning America.” “Dawn was one of the best killer whale trainers I’ve ever worked with. … It looks like she made the mistake.”
Lacinak said Brancheau was apparently lying down in a 4-inch “slide out” that trainers are meant to stand on while interacting with the whale when her ponytail drifted toward the mouth of the 12,000-pound animal.
“He pulled her in by the ponytail,” Lacinak said. “I’m pretty sure it was her breaking protocol. … Sometimes we get too comfortable working with these animals. Sometimes we forget what they are.”
Hmmm …
Whoever was to blame, Brancheau’s death has sparked a debate over whether killer whales like Tillikum – the largest of SeaWorld’s twenty-five orcas – should continue to perform.
By countryboy February 27, 2010 at 9:36 am
Don’t know who is the stupidest, the people who own and run these shows or the trainers. Is the name “Killer Whale” any sort of a clue?
By ManWithoutaPArty February 27, 2010 at 11:30 am
Your own dog could kill you. These people get into the business knowing the risks. It’s similar to coal miners. Although the coal miners don’t usually put on a song and dance for the public. If they do, it’s done miles underground away from cameras. It’s tragic she died, and it’s tragic that these animals keep on “performing” for the public for only fish. I think Tilikum was just showing some muscle in his contract negotiations.
By CNSYD February 27, 2010 at 11:41 am
countryboy, you got it right. Names do give clues. Like the clueless people who are shocked when their home built on a BARRIER island is destroyed by a storm. Duh!
By Steve V February 27, 2010 at 11:57 am
Shame on you if I fool you once. If I fool you twice…you’re dead.
By Noelle February 27, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Orca whales are wonderful creatures, but they are huge wild animals. Tillikum probably thought he was playing with his trainer. Seeing Orcas in the ocean is a totally different experience than the SeaWorld tanks. All those whales must be a little bit mental from spending their lives in a glorified fish bowl. They need things to do so they don’t get bored. In the wild they would hunt for food, swim miles a day and interact with sea creatures. They really are too big to be kept in captivity. Tilly’s value is not just for entertainment. SeaWorld wants to keep Tilly for his contribution to the genetic diversity of the captive population. Bottom line, they won’t put him down because SeaWorld knows they can’t just go out and get a new whale.
By Wendy February 27, 2010 at 6:59 pm
First it was posted online that the Orca Tilly doesn’t have all his teeth. Considering his age and that sort of condition I would never consider releasing him back into the wild. THAT is killing him. I’m pretty sure the whale doesn’t know his size compared to his trainer, doesn’t realize the difference between a playful tug and drowning someone and thought it was ok. The hair looked like fish to him so he grabbed it. Perhaps the conditions related to the incident were the cause of the problem. He’s not “a killer”. Captive yes, for 30 years. How can you stand to let him go back when he doesn’t know the wild. I would’ve ever let him go, he’d die.
Plus the other incidents where he doesn’t dive low, he stays on top of the water etc makes him a target in general.
By Janice Folio February 27, 2010 at 7:33 pm
This says it all…..Tilly was ‘CAPTURED’ 30 years ago. And for what purpose?
By John Peters February 27, 2010 at 7:57 pm
We all have to remember that we are getting paid because of the risks we take. Its tragic that this person was impacted but I hope the risk and the reward of working with the mammals paid off.
I have been electrocuted and the work started back up after the power was reset. I have worked where people fell into liquid steel. These jobs pay the bills and provide things like cars and electricity.
Do we need Seaworld like we need electricity? Obviously if people are there to pay for the show. We need the majestic animals and the fearless people that train them. It helps us because we take risks for our jobs too.
Its our culture to push the limits. A culture full of discovery and risk takers is not going to give up and if we can make a living at it then all the better.
By Megan February 27, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Performance is one of many activities in the animals’ daily schedules that keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Taking Tillikum out of the shows would only increase any level of boredom he may experience.
I don’t know how many times this needs to be said for the general public to understand, but the killer whales and other marine mammals in captivity do NOT “perform for fish.” They are fed their entire daily diet REGARDLESS of their choice to perform. Giving the animals fish as a reward for behavior is just one type of reinforcement that the trainers use when working with the animals.
Before making ignorant suggestions regarding how killer whales in captivity should be managed, I would recommend some education on what it is, exactly, that goes into killer whale husbandry. It is far more complex and diverse than most realize, and not something the public has any business making suggestions about.
By Anonymous February 27, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@Megan
Perhaps you should consider the reality of the situation before scorning others for expressing their opinions. The fact of the matter is; these animals were forced into captivity. None of them signed a contract to become a performer. They are being held against their will, whether they behave aggressively or not.
Personally, I hope Tillikum continues his trend until SeaWorld has no other option but to discontinue the entire “Shamu” circus. I am at a loss for words as to how our society has arrived at the conclusion that it’s acceptable to capture and ‘train’ wild animals purely for our own amusement.
These kinds of incidents should make it blindingly obvious to everyone that what SeaWorld is doing is wrong; making money off the backs of unwilling performers, whether they are able to express their sentiments or not. What SeaWorld and other ‘amusement parks’ are doing is tantamount to slavery.
Let’s think for a moment… honestly; how do we justify the forcing of another being into captivity?
Would we see this any differently if they were humans rather than orcas? I truly hope we can open our eyes to reality of what is happening here.
Tragedy. Not for the trainers, but for each and every animal that is forced to live within these walls. Plain and simple tragedy.
By Penny Sperling February 27, 2010 at 10:19 pm
When Dawn fliped over on her back like Tilly was she brushed her pony tail over his mouth. It was a break in protocol which she didn’t think about and he saw it as a toy for his reward for the day. No way did he attack her or know the pony tail was part of her. Whales are smart but not so smart that they understand women’s hair styles. When she came with the pony tail he thought at last a trainer is going to swim with me.{They were not allowed to do so} NO WAY did he intend to hurt her…they loved each other….Seaworld must be concerned about tilly’s depression over this…He MUST miss her greatly…They have had daily interactions for over 10 years….This is a major disaster for all!!!!
By caintstandit February 27, 2010 at 11:19 pm
If she WERE standing here with me…….I’m pretty sure it was SHE….AAAAAHHHH!
By youknowwho February 28, 2010 at 12:11 am
Interesting the comments. Is “stupidest” even a word? “he doesn’t know the wild” . . . etc ad nausem. The base issue, (status quo for this moment in time), is MONEY. We caught Tilikum and have had PLENTY of time over the past (nearly) 30 years to study and learn from this magnificent creature.
Tilikum is an animal caught in the wild. Not second, third, or forth generation born in captivity. He knows the “wild”. Not so graciously we have learned (and profited) from his unwilling emergence into our self-centered “superior” reality. Who are “we” = (species not consensus) to sentence him to life in captivity? Please don’t lower to the ‘bigger brain’ tag.
They do NOT need to be ‘re’-trained to the wild. It is cellular. It is in their blood just as it is in ours. We know what ‘human’ is. They know what (per our moniker), a ‘killer whale’ is. Let him go . . . .thank him for the time, for the science. Forgive him for lessons he taught yet we ignored so we could continue to profit from his controlled existence in our environment. What more does he owe us? His life? Isn’t 30 years enough? I mean NO disrespect to the families of the lost. Yet, we cannot continue to believe we are superior to things we don’t respect, let alone understand.
By pleasechokeonyoursourgrapes February 28, 2010 at 1:56 am
Under what circumstances should any wild animal be held in captivity?
By Sasha February 28, 2010 at 11:30 am
Bravo Anonymous (@Megan)! Very well said.
By Orlando Magic Fan February 28, 2010 at 11:03 pm
If food and a confined living space is all that was needed to make animals happy, Jail would not be punishment.
By captain ahab March 1, 2010 at 3:07 am
why is it amazing that the animal is “not subject to any form of punishment”? its already serving a life sentence in jail. were you expecing the fish to be lashed or corporally disciplined? and i don’t think waterboarding works on a fish like that unless you cork its blowhole. that fish was bought for 2 million dollars after it was captured in the wild at 2 years of age. if anything this fish should be hailed as a freedom fighter, but im sure yall will label it a terrist. i guess if the fish was piloting a jet and dropped a bomb on the seaworld trainer it would be a different story as long as the fish declared it was kiling the trainer in the name of freedom and democracy. SEAWORLD’s motto: ENSLAVE WILLY.
By really???? March 1, 2010 at 9:08 am
Hey morons….it is an animal. Maybe you people have watched free willy one too many times. How can you even consider comparing an animal in captivity to slavery? I am sure the Israelites and Africans would beg to differ.
By Toyota Kawaski March 1, 2010 at 10:06 am
Anonymous while you are at it can you get the University of South Carolina to stop using Gamecocks as their mascot?