i read on another news website the they animal had essentially done the same thing one time before, pulling a trainer into the water and killing them. parks keeping orca really need to rethink the way they interact and work with their orcas to better protect their staff. given the animals history, one would think it very unwise to allow people to get within its immediate reach.
Here are some interesting facts about the current captive orcas I found on what seems like a very well-researched website called Orca Homepage : There are currently 42 captive orcas worldwide in 11 facilities. In Asia, there are 8 in 2 facilities (7 at Kamogawa SeaWorld and 1 at Taiji Whaling Museum, both in Japan). In Europe, there are 8 in 2 facilities (4 at Loro Parque Tenerife in Spain, 4 at Marineland Antibes in France). In South America, there is 1 at Acuario Mundo Marina in Argentina. In North America, there are 25 in 6 facilities (2 at Marineland Ontario in Canada, and the rest in the USA: 1 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California, 7 at SeaWorld San Diego in California, 6 at SeaWorld Texas, 8 at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida, and 1 at Miami Seaquarium in Florida). 153 additional orcas have died in captivity. The first captive was in 1961 at the now-closed Marineland California in Palos Verdes; the orca died within 2 days. In 1964, Vancouver Aquarium had one for 3 months. In 1965, Seattle Marine Aquarium had one for 1 year. Also in 1965, SeaWorld San Diego captured the original Shamu, who lived 6 years. After the initial success of Shamu's first few years, the first larger-scale wild capture of many individuals was in 1967 in Washington, with many others to follow until 1977 in Washington and British Columbia waters. 1 wild capture in 1979 off California was the last North American capture. Another wild capture hotspot was Japan from 1972 to 1997. Also, Iceland provided many orcas from 1976 to 1989. Smaller numbers have come from Argentina (4), 1 from Russia, and the most recent wild capture was 1 in 2007 in Mexico (an unfortunate 2 month captivity)! By far, the longest-lived in captivity are still alive and probably the same age: Corky 2 at SeaWorld San Diego with just over 40 years and Lolita at Miami Seaquarium with 39.5 years. The current population includes 13 survivors from wild capture (1 from Washington, 1 from British Columbia, 1 from Japan, 9 from Iceland, and 1 from Argentina) and 29 born in captivity. The mothers with the most living offspring are a mother and daughter team both at SeaWorld Orlando with 4 each (although not all their offspring still live with them). The newest calf is a month and a half old at SeaWorld Texas. Current population sex is slightly off balance, with 17 males and 25 females. SeaWorld Orlando has the largest population with 8. They have 2 males, one of which is just over 4 years old; their breeding male is obviously very important to the continuation of the captive population since wild capture is not an option and the two most successful breeding females are right beside him (he is also trained for artificial insemination and has sired over 10). He is Tilikum and he is the orca that killed the trainer. He was wild caught in Iceland in 1983 and was previously kept at Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria in British Columbia. According to the Wikipedia entry for the park, in 1991 Tilikum and his two female companions drowned a female trainer who fell in their pool, and the three were sold to SeaWorld and the park closed shortly after. At that time, trainers did not enter the water with the whales, and that is still true at SeaWorld Orlando as far as Tilikum is concerned, so he is not used to humans in the water.
I agree. A very good run-down from Geomorph to where we are now with this species in zoological collections. This is indeed sad event on many levels. I am pleased that the media I have seen have shown some respect from the friends and family of the women killed. I suspect many of the animal rights groups such as PETA will not as they have already been busy with their press releases quote the BBC: Animal rights group PETA says it has long been asking SeaWorld to stop taking wild, ocean-going mammals and confining them to an area that, to them, is "the size of a bathtub". What PETA don’t seem to grasp is that of the 21 orcas I believe held by SeaWorld only 5 are wild caught and the last in 1983 . So SeaWorld have not acquired any orca from wild capture for 27 years. To honest I can’t really disagree with this statement as this animal, a large breeding male, has had history of this ‘aggressive’ behaviour with him being involved with two other incidents that led to the deaths of a trainer and trespasser. In fact, I believe that the SeaWorld staff do not go into the water with him. Further more perhaps we should treat animals like this as we do a bull elephant which brings us back to the debate that surround Protected or Free contact. Protected contact being ironically developed by the former orca training team at Marineland of the Pacific. Obviously we don’t know the full facts but it is odd that animals of this size and strength – in these ‘aggressive incidence’ I have seen of You Tube and alike - do seem to be engaging in some form of ‘play behaviour’ when they are more than capable of removing limbs and causing sever trauma to a human and yet they don’t. I remember seeing the photos (see above) of Anette Eckins at SeaWorld in California many years ago who whist riding an orca fell off and the animal grab her by the leg and held her but actually didn’t do any real damage. We also have the incident with ‘Cuddles’ at Dudley grabbing and pulling Don Robinson into the water. Speculating further I wonder if the some form of sexual behaviour and/or relate to where this animal was caught as we have animals from both the US/Canadian Pacific and Iceland? And we also have the behavioural feeding differences in wild orca with some being excusive fish eater and other mammals and yet others still both fish and mammals.
Yes I have stated in other posts that it is surprising the liberties that are taken with the largest mammal kept in captivity, compared to other animals such as elephants. I think protective contact will have to be brought into prevent further incidence like this. However people pay to see human-whale interaction and that is what brings in the millions! so it is unlikely. I hope that Tilikum will not suffer as a result of this! I dont think they will euthanise him but I can imagine him being locked in isolation for long periods of time. Many people are killed at work every year, how many lorry drivers are involved in fatal accidents, so I dont think this incident will have any major impact of the Seaworld parks, just a hazard that comes with the territory Im afraid.
The park blog has a short statement this morning about Tilikum: "Many people are asking about the future care of Tilikum, the whale involved in the incident. We have every intention of continuing to interact with this animal, though the procedures for working with him will change. We are still reviewing this incident and will evaluate the situation and make a decision accordingly." And their schedule: "SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego will be open Thursday, February 25 as scheduled (SeaWorld San Antonio is not yet open for the season) but Believe shows and Dine with Shamu experiences at all SeaWorld locations have been suspended; no decision has been made for future dates at this time."
All of most of the killer whale incidents I have read about all seem to be to-do with the whale holding the person under the water for too long, usually resulting in drowning them. They get scraped and biten, but not as badly as you would expect from such a predator. As john pointed out, this could be just playful activity taken too far, and as Tillikum is not used to humans in the water with him, he would have no idea of how to treat them. I don't think Seaworld would ever close their shamu shows in a hurry because they're the main attractions at all three of their parks and quite frankly, the shows are their trademark. But it goes without a doubt that this event will have put questions into their minds about their methods to training and interaction. I don't know whether much can be prevented though... Also, about the conflicting stories over the incident: park visitor: trainer was talking about the behaviours in the show and got grabbed by the waist and pulled into the water at the start of the show. park/authorities: trainer fell into pool behind the scenes before the show had started. Personally I think that the tourist's account is probably the closest to the truth, as the other story looks like a cover-up. Opinions?
footage has now been released showing the trainer and the orca interacting "moments before" the attack. Whale Attack YouTube Video | Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau if this IS genuine footage from that day with the same animal, then i'd hardly call it protective contact...
Avoiding anthropomorphism I do not think this was an accident! Killer whales are too intelligent to do things by accident, you only have to watch 5 mins of footage of them hunting to realise that they premeditate and co-ordinate everything. They know that humans cant hold their breath as long as they can, they know that thrashing them around or anything else is going to harm them. This whale was not playing. There should be a complete ban on entering the water with this animal, and a 2 meter stand off line drawn around the pool to avoid people tripping or being dragged in. I feel sorry for this whale, he cannot be blamed, but regardless of what they are saying he is going to suffer! he will be locked away while the other animals are being interacted with and during shows. a stressful even claustrophobic experience for an animal from the open ocean. Human nature as it is though Seaworld will be booming for the next few months! There is a morbid curiosity in people and now they know how much more dangerous the show is they will flock to the park. It was unfortunate for the trainer but the only consolation is that she died doing what she loved! God rest her!
This is an argument I've heard several times today, and I don't buy it. Are humans too intelligent to do things by accident? I also read some expert say that whales are too intelligent to do something impulsively. So humans never do anything impulsively either?
I have two question to that case: An animal rights activist for Marine Mammals here in Switzerland, an organisation named Ocean Care (Interesting where you can find experts although our country has no connection to an ocean) says in a newspaper, that the Seaworld Parks give sedative to the killer whales to lower the risk of an attac during the show. Are there any evidences/proofs for that or is it - what I presume - just an invented claim? An what is the newest official release to that case? (Specially: Is the trainer fallen or has she been drawn in the water?)
Edit: "questions" instead of "question" and "And what is" instead of "An what is" - sorry about that.
Killer whale are predators they know how to kill! even an elephant that turns on its keeper has quite deliberate intention, or a tame lion that turns on its keeper and bites him in the neck. Predators know how to kill. I do not think this was a play accident! this whale pulled the keeper into the water. If it had of jumped on her then yes it could have been put down to a misjudged accident. Have a look at this video, this shows the intelligence and coordination of this species! this is a deep thoughted animal that people have yet no understanding of its mental power.
I think this is rubbish regarding giving seditives. It dangerous anyway because of the way cetacean breath. More ill informed nonesense that will be filtering out from the animal rights groups of the next few months. They have nothing better to do and this is there agenda.
Chuck Tompkins, Head of Animal Training for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, talks about SeaWorld killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau. An Interview with Chuck Tompkins | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
BBC News - US killer whale show to resume after trainer is killed Update on the BBC web site. Shows will start again on Saturday with trainers not in the water.
