Trainer Killed By Whale at Seaworld (Orlando)

[SandrA9810]

dawn brancheau is the trainer, but not 100% sure.

 

[RadioNate]

dawn brancheau is the trainer, but not 100% sure.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...-orlando-shamu-injury-20100224,0,942688.story

Law enforcement has released her name.

The Sentinel article above describes eye witness accounts and Tilly's troubled past.

 

[RadioNate]

The fault lies with SeaWorld--not the whale!

Unless you can produce a contract with his flipper signature that he wished to be captive and work with humans and promising to be nice in the face of two human deaths.

I'm not blaming the whale. Or the trainer. It was a horrible accident. However, I do agree that there is no way that this whale should have been used with the public in any capacity. He was the primary whale for "Dine with Shamu." That IS Sea World's fault.

There are reports coming out that the whales were agitated earlier in the day and one of the Believe shows were cut short and that there were some 'issues' in recent days regarding the whales.

 

[minnie56]

I think the issues are the Wild animal is in a tank and us humans are looking at it! Not the way it was intended...how can we possibly think that is enough space for such a creature? I wish they would just stop capturing these animals for our amusement!

 

[pigletgirl]

Wow, what a total tragedy.

There is a reason they're called 'Killer Whales'

Can't really trust any animal 100%!!

What provoked the attack???

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not blaming the whale. Or the trainer. It was a horrible accident. However, I do agree that there is no way that this whale should have been used with the public in any capacity. He was the primary whale for "Dine with Shamu." That IS Sea World's fault.

There are reports coming out that the whales were agitated earlier in the day and one of the Believe shows were cut short and that there were some 'issues' in recent days regarding the whales.

But it seems that bringing up his history is an effort to demonstrate that the whale is the one at fault.


I am not a huge fan of sea world. In fact the ONLY show I enjoy is Pets Ahoy! Yes, I enjoy the dogs, cats, rats, and pig at Sea World--not so much the sea life.

Someone posted that the whale would lose his life. I certainly hope not. It's not like he can escape a cage and go on the prowl and attack. Just keep people out of his pool and voila!

 

[hereyago]

A few years back, DD11 and I went to Sea World. We were doing a behind the scenes tour, well the guide didn't show up at first. A female whale trainer came and began the tour. We were right behind the stadium and the whales woould poke their heads out of the water. She showed us where they weigh the whales.

Then the regular guide came. I asked the trainer if I could take a picture with her and DD. That picture is in my living room. I cannot remember her name.

Killer whales are very smart. In the wild, they work together to close in the prey. I saw where a seal? was on a piece of ice and they kept knocking the ice so the animal would go into the water.

I feel sorry for the trainer and her family. But whether an animal is raised in captivity or not, they still have those insticts in them. We don't know if the whale was trying to play, or if Tilly meant to hurt her.

 

[yoopermom]

I don't know what the alternatives would be (do they make no kill shelters for orcas? could it be released into the wild?), but it doesn't seem right to put it down for following its instincts.

Prayers for the trainer's family, but Seaworld needs to step up to its responsibility to humans and animals...

Terri

 

[happygirl]

feel sorry for the trainer and her family. But whether an animal is raised in captivity or not, they still have those insticts in them. We don't know if the whale was trying to play, or if Tilly meant to hurt her.

I also feel for the trainers family and friend. I agree there is no way to tell what Tilly was thinking if we was just playing or what.

 

[RadioNate]

But it seems that bringing up his history is an effort to demonstrate that the whale is the one at fault.


I am not a huge fan of sea world. In fact the ONLY show I enjoy is Pets Ahoy! Yes, I enjoy the dogs, cats, rats, and pig at Sea World--not so much the sea life.

Someone posted that the whale would lose his life. I certainly hope not. It's not like he can escape a cage and go on the prowl and attack. Just keep people out of his pool and voila!

But this particular whale DOES have a history of violence. I don't think the whale acted unnaturally, nor do I believe that the whale had any clue that it was killing the trainer but the fact is there was a reason that there were precautions taken with this whale.

This whale shouldn't have been used in close human contact after the 1st incident.

By many accounts the whale pulled the trainer into the pool, she didn't simply fall in. Even if she did just fall, she shouldn't have been in proximity to fall into the tank. I'm not blaming her either.

We knew this whale had a history of behaving in a way that was dangerous for humans. Why was this whale trotted out in front of diners as a show pony.

It is sad and tragic. I don't think this whale's history can be ignored whether or not he can be "blamed."

There obviously were some "warning signs" so to speak or they wouldn't have taken special precautions.

It doesn't matter if he was acting on instinct, the whale DID kill her. While you really can't blame a wild animal held in captivity for it's actions, it's actions were responsible for her death. It doesn't really matter that the whale had no clue it's actions would result in the trainers death. It's a whale!

I don't hope the whale is put down but I do think it needs to live the remainder of it's days out of public life.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I am so sad this happened, and really feel for the trainer's family

BUT...you can't really 'blame' a wild animal for doing things it would do in the wild. Whether this happened during play, defense (presuming the animal felt in danger), or hunting...doesn't matter. Killer whales are large predatory sea mammals. I compare working with them to working with tigers or polar bears...other large predatory animals. You are, or should, be aware of the risks at all times. And I am saddened that this animal, who was behaving like an animal, will probably be euthanized b/c of this.

I am a former zookeeper, and I was well aware of the risks I took getting into cages with the animals I took care of. I had a large Andean condor almost take a large chunk out of my leg one time...luckily, she took a large chunk out of my boot instead. But I would never blame her...I was removing old food from her cage, and she got protective. It scared me, and I always stayed on my toes after that.

Yes...I am sad. I am sad for the trainer's family, and I am sad that everyone is going to demand the animal be put down.

 

[happygirl]

I don't know what the alternatives would be (do they make no kill shelters for orcas? could it be released into the wild?), but it doesn't seem right to put it down for following its instincts.

I can't even image them puttiing him down. I would think they will take him off the show for a better lack of words.

 

[Tuffcookie]

This is so tragic!

I hope they only retire this killer whale though. I would hate to think they would destroy it.

TC

 

[PaulaSB12]

1 Put him and all the others in the same sort of bay that Keiko got.
2 If that isn't possible STOP BREEDING THEM they are animals that live with the family all their lifes. The males breed with females of other pods but go back to the family pod to live. So breeding them and swapping them from one group to another is wrong.
3 They have different languages with different pods can you imagine being put in a place with a language you don't understand how would a whale handle that
4 I know people love watching the shows but its time to end all the dolphin and whale shows, its not fair to the animals and you are not seeing any sort of natural behaviour.

 

[leslie@dvcstore]

very sad story - prayers go out to family.

 

[lillygator]

Thanks Lisa. I guess people think animals can understand and think like humans do.

according to the dog thread - many on the DIS do!

very sad story - prayers go out to family.

it is very sad!

 

[SandrA9810]

I know my dog was a great dog and all, but I never for once thought she could understand like a human. And I know service dogs are highly TRAINED, and can be absolutly amazing. But there's not one animal that can comprehend like a person.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

It's always tragic when a person dies...especially in a manner like this.

However, this was this woman's life and I just don't think she would blame the whale. There really is no blame to place.

It sucks and it we will never understand why animals act the way they do.

 

[dismom2]

The whales were not cooperating earlier and, according to witnesses, seemed very agitated. Sea World should not have proceeded with the shows. The 'Shamu' show is a huge money-maker, and the sole reason why it exists.

I do not blame the whale at all. It's very unnatural for an animal to be caged in a small area and be forced to do tricks for rewards. I hope this whale is treated humanely for the rest of it's life.

RIP to the trainer as well.

 

[luvsJack]

The trainers and animal handlers at Sea World are experts, I am fairly certain if they were using this whale, they knew more about whether he was safe than any of us can possibly tell by reading an article or two.

Is is certain that the whale will be put down or is that possibly a rumor?

Is it possible that the trainer failed to follow protocol? Not blaming her, we all do it every day on our different jobs. You get used to doing something every day and after awhile its easy to say "nothing has ever happened, just this once I will do it this way"

Are these animals bred in captivity or are they rescued animals? What is the good done by a place like Sea World (not in the shows, but in the study of the whales and other animals.)?

My prayers go out to the trainer and her family and for the safety of this beautiful animal.

I love Sea World and all of the shows. The whales are beautiful animals and it seems that you can see a true affection between trainer and whale when you watch them together.


Lisa loves Pooh: I wasn't insinuating that you said they killed humans.