Thursday, February 25, 2010

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At some time, most Gainesville families have probably made the familiar a trek to Orlando, just two hours away, to visit one of the many theme parks. Visitors to Sea World on Wednesday experienced a show they’ll never forget. Spectators watched, horrified, as Tilikum, a 30-year-old Orca (aka Killer Whale) swam around the tank with a trainer in his mouth. Dawn Brancheau, age 40, was a veteran trainer at Sea World. The incident occurred after an afternoon show at the famed Shamu Stadium.

The Sherriff’s department has reported that there are some inconsistencies in eyewitness accounts. However, according to most reports, the 12,000 Killer Whale grabbed Brancheau and pulled her into the water. By all accounts, Brancheau was petting the whale while the audience exited the stadium. During this time, audience members are allowed to come down to the tank to get a closer look at the whales and to talk to trainers.

Some eyewitnesses have reported to AP that the whale swam around excitedly and then suddenly came out of the water and grabbed Brancheau. Others stated that the attack occurred while Brancheau was petting the animal and that it went from this apparently soothing time to attack without warning. One particularly horrifying account tells of a couple who had gone down to the tanks to get a better look when all of a sudden the whale swam by them with the trainer in his mouth.

This is not the first time that Tilikum has been involved in human death. Tilikum was one of three orcas blamed for the death of a trainer who fell in the water in 1991 in British Columbia. In 1999, a man sneaked past security at Sea World and was later found draped over Tilikum. The man was clearly scratched and bruised by Tilikum, but it wasn’t clear if he had fallen in and died due to an accident or if Tilikum was to blame.

Because of these incidents, Tilikum was kept in a separate tank from the other orcas and trainers did not get in the water with him. Several eyewitnesses reported that the animal was not behaving normally both before and during Wednesday’s deadly show. According to some accounts, the killer whale was agitated and was not following directions well.

An investigator from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been sent to Orlando to investigate. No doubt, this incident will raise concerns about while animals, especially such large and at times ferocious ones, being used for shows such as this. It also remains to be seen what will happen to Tilikum and why he was even in the show in the first place if he wasn’t behaving appropriately. The Sea World website is down this morning.

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